Urban Forest Health Monitoring: Large-Scale Assessments in the United States

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (USFS), together with state partners, developed methods to monitor urban forest structure, function, and health at a large statewide scale. Pilot studies have been established in five states using protocols based on USFS Forest Inventory and Analysis and Forest Health Monitoring program data collection standards. Variables and data analysis are described. Advantages of a large-scale monitoring study are discussed and examples of results from Wisconsin are presented. Studies in Indiana, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Colorado, U.S., have shown that urban forest health monitoring data collection and analysis is feasible and can be implemented nationally.