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Location: Torquay, Paignton, Brixham (England)
Torbay’s Urban Forest 10 Years on: Assessing Urban Forest Effects and Values
In 2010, Treeconomics and Torbay Council undertook the first i-Tree Eco sample study in the UK, to assess and value Torbay’s urban forest. This was a pilot project, which aimed to adapt the i-Tree Eco software for the UK. This study has widely impacted how many local councils across the UK view and value trees in urban environments.
Repeating the i-Tree Eco sample study in 2021 allowed Torbay to capture and monitor changes in its treescapes. This has helped inform management strategies, as well as planting plans and policies, relating to Torbay’s trees.
All in it together
The latest study was carried out as a partnership between Treeconomics, SWISCo, Hi-Line, Forest Research, Davey Tree, and Wild Planet Trust, with teams of volunteer tree wardens completing the fieldwork.
What’s new?
Since the original pilot project, i-Tree Eco has been continually updated and improved, providing data on carbon storage and sequestration, air pollution removal, rainwater interception, urban cooling, and building energy effects, as well as information on species, age, and size diversity. The data in the 2021 study is therefore more accurate and detailed than that collected in 2010.
The 2021 report also incorporates an amenity valuation (using the CAVAT tool), an outdoor recreation valuation (using the ORVal tool), as well as a desk-based study to determine values of carbon storage and sequestration for other types of green infrastructure, including soils, grasslands, and seagrass.
We are delighted to be launching our second i-Tree survey. Looking after our trees is one of the most important ways we can help tackle climate change, so it is great that the local community is so supportive.
Beyond Eco
Treeconomics provided hands-on training for Torbay’s Tree Wardens and others surveying the sample plots.
The results from the i-Tree Eco study were fed into an interactive, ward-level ‘webmap’, alongside results from an inventory study of council-owned trees and Bluesky National Tree Map canopy data.
The tree canopy data was also used in a tree planting opportunity mapping exercise, to identify potential plantable space and to rank land on the benefits trees could deliver, from high to low priority.
Threats to the urban forest
This survey has highlighted the dire situation of Ash Dieback in Torbay; Ash dominate the population, yet almost all are in a critical condition. The replacement of these trees must be addressed as soon as possible to reduce the loss of canopy cover and ecosystem services.
Moving forward
This project shows how crucial it is to monitor the urban forest, and provides valuable insight into the impact of past management strategies. Using this information, strategies can be altered to positively impact the health, ecosystem service provision, diversity, and amenity value of trees.
As a direct result of this project, Torbay has been able to increase its budgets for tree planting and management, and has implemented a new Tree Warden scheme. This project has raised the standard for urban forestry in the UK.
Download the report here.
Treeconomics is the go-to organisation for the valuing of trees in towns and cities. We specialise in all aspects of urban forest management and offer a range of services, from canopy cover assessments through to comprehensive management plans.
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