Peri‐urban tree canopy assessments: Leveraging partnerships and technology for climate resilience

The urban tree canopy plays a crucial role in climate change mitigation and adaptation, yet peri‐urban environments—transition zones between urban and rural areas—remain unexplored in urban tree canopy assessments. With rapid urbanization expected to increase the global population to two‐thirds by 2050, managing peri‐urban green infrastructure is essential for enhancing climate resilience. While the socio‐environmental and economic benefits and services of urban and peri‐urban forests are well‐documented, municipalities with limited resources often lack the financial, human, or technical resources and expertise to obtain accurate data using geospatial technologies. This study evaluates cost‐effective methods of urban tree canopy assessment in a peri‐urban and resource‐limited municipal context, aiming to improve municipal governance. Findings suggest that a low‐cost point‐sampling approach can enhance municipal capacity to manage forests in peri‐urban environments, thus enhancing climate resiliency. Additionally, partnerships between higher‐education institutions and municipalities can optimize resource sharing and facilitate integrated peri‐urban forest management.