Tree inventories

Dear Editor:

RE: Township will conduct tree inventory with FCM grant, April 23.

It is interesting to read Joanne Shuttleworth’s story. It’s good news that Centre Wellington is applying for close to $90,000 from the Federation of Ontario Municipalities  to conduct a tree inventory and tree canopy cover analysis.

I hope the grant is approved as it will support informed management of our community’s natural assets.

 This is a good time to mention that for 10 years, from 2007 to 2017, dozens of tree-loving Neighbourwoods volunteers donated their time, energy and enthusiasm to collect and record data on some 10,000 urban trees in our community. 

Led by summer students funded by Canada Summer Jobs, volunteers worked in teams, taking measurements, identifying species, noting obstructions or conflicts, and recording health indicators about each tree they visited.  Trees were numbered on air photo maps, data was recorded using paper and pen, then uploaded onto spreadsheets. 

Thanks to volunteer Greg Wolowich, the township’s GIS manager, about five years in we shifted to an on-line mapping system which greatly  streamlined and improved the process.

 Neighbourwoods’  citizen science program provided rich summer employment experience for close to two dozen young people, and fostered a community of dedicated volunteers who helped educate homeowners during field work – all at very little cost to the township. 

Much of this work can be found on the township’s website, although some has since been updated by township staff.

I’d like to take this opportunity to formally acknowledge and thank all who were involved in the Neighbourwoods tree inventory.

 Toni Ellis,
Neighbourwoods Coordinator,
Elora