by LA Roman, NS van Doorn, EG McPherson, BC Scharenbroch, JG Henning, JPA Ӧstberg, LS Mueller, AK Koeser, JR Mills, RA Hallett, JE Sanders, JJ Battles, DJ Boyer, JP Fristensky, SK Mincey, PJ Peper, J Vogt
USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Madison, WI
2020This guide is a companion to the “Urban tree monitoring: A resource guide” and was written to assist researchers, managers, and students of urban forestry and urban ecology in field-based tree monitoring projects. The focus of this guide is what the authors call the “minimum dataset”, the main components of an urban tree monitoring program. The minimum dataset variables include the field crew ID and experience level, tree record identifier, location, tree photo, site type, land use, species, mortality status, basal sprouts, and trunk diameter. For each variable the authors clearly lay out the description, justification, recorded for, and important notes. Color photographs are used to provide a visual aid to better understand the variable. The trunk diameter section provides several detailed sub-sections on how to accurately take these important measurements: best practices for trunk diameter measurements, how to use a d-tape, and special considerations for d.b.h.