will ensure that the inventory is con- sistent with the municipality’s urban forestry objectives, which may include: •Determining population size and characteristics; •Documenting species diversity and canopy cover; •Identifying highrisk trees for public safety; •Establishing a baseline for longterm management and capital planning; and/or •Recording work history to track changes in the tree population over time. It is also important to know what type of inventory is best for operational needs. Periodic, continuous, partial, complete, and sample inventories all have their purpose depending on the needs of the municipality. Use Standard Methodology An urban forest asset management sys- tem should be built on local, regional,
Inventories can reveal potential conflicts between trees and infrastructure, informing safety decisions and maintenance priorities for urban forest managers..
ON THE RECORD A tree inventory is the systematic process of identifying, documenting, maintaining, and monitoring tree attributes as part of an asset man- agement system. It is considered the backbone of any urban forestry pro- gram and becomes the foundation for all management activities, from routine pruning cycles to emergency response, and everything in between. For arborists and urban foresters, the quality of the inventory determines the quality of the decisions that fol- low. At its core, tree asset management relies on an accurate, comprehensive framework. Without a clear under- standing of what trees exist, where they are located, what condition they are in, or how to capture this infor- mation, municipalities cannot plan maintenance, forecast budgets, or respond to risks effectively. There- fore, before fieldwork can begin, it’s important to plan ahead by creating a tree inventory.
Establish Clear Objectives Before collecting any data, determine the purpose of the tree inventory. This
Type of Inventory
Definition
Best For
Conducted at fixed intervals (e.g., every 3, 5, or 10 years).
Tracking incremental changes and longterm trends in the urban forest.
Periodic
Refreshing data for maintenance schedules and monitoring outcomes in real time. Focused management and operational planning when time or budgets are limited. Phased partial inventories can build toward a complete inventory. Municipalities requiring full asset datasets supported by larger budgets.
Continuous Updated on a recurring basis with data collected annually or through rotating cycles.
Measures selected areas or specific tree populations by species, location, or attributes.
Partial
Records all trees within the defined area, which may exclude private trees depending on local regulations. Captures a representative sample (3 - 10%) of the urban forest with or without stratification.
Complete
Large urban forests where full inventories are not cost-effective. Also useful for strategic planning or justifying a complete inventory.
Sample
10 | Fall 2026 ArborTIMES ™
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