USDA Forest Service & CAL FIRE Present the Urban Tree Canopy Viewer in California
Sierra Sun Times
The USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region and California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) are pleased to announce the launching of 2018 data for the Urban Tree Canopy Viewer Program in California. This program allows communities to understand the extent and location of its existing tree canopy in order to implement sound management practices to optimize community services attained from trees.
The urban tree canopy cover map layer has been updated based on 2018 National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) aerial imagery and LiDAR data collected by the U.S. Geological Survey. With updated data, communities can make more-informed, urban forest management decisions such as prioritizing locations for tree planting, establishing urban forestry master plans, and managing threats to canopy loss.
“Urban trees connect us to nature in our neighborhoods and beyond,” said Regional Forester Randy Moore, USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region. “Conserving California’s healthy forests, including its urban ones, is a shared priority for the Forest Service, CAL FIRE, and many of our partners. We are proud to have worked together to make this tree viewer available to communities across the state that seek to sustain and improve their vital urban forests that serve people in so many beneficial ways.”