Technology and Trees

Presentation for APS Science Staff

Mary Van Dyke, 15 Feb 2011

A Schoolyard Tree Project

• Tree ID• Tree Inventory• Calculate Tree Benefits

Online• Map Trees on Google

Maps

Why?

• Science SOLs

– 4.8 Virginia’s Natural

Resources

– 4.5 Ecosystems

– 5.1 Classification key

• Technology and project-

based learning

• Educate students about

urban forests

• Multi-disciplinary

– Tree biology

– Urban ecology

– Classification

– Quantitative skills (counting

and measuring)

– Resources and stewardship

Technology and Trees -Logistics

• Costs and Materials- Minimal Investment– Tree ID books– Diameter “DBH” tapes– Cameras– Computers– Resources Online

• Class Time– 4 x 45 min lessons minimum

• When– Late March to October optimum

Tree ID

• Draw favorite trees frommemory, or write a poem

• Go outside, look at trees• Identify trees• Make leaf albums

Tree Inventory

GoodEastern RedCedar5

Trees in the APS Syphax Building Parking LotTeam: APS StaffDate: 2/15/2011

GoodEvergreen,small4

GoodEastern WhitePine3

FairCallery orBradford Pear2

FairEasternRedbud1

Condition:Good, Fair,or Dead

Diameter atBreastHeight, DBHSpeciesTree #

Tree Benefitso Storm-water Runoff Reduction

o Property Value

o Energy Reduction

o Air Quality Improvement

o CO2 Sequestration

o Wildlife Habitat Benefits

o Social Benefits

o Timber Value

$$ Tree Benefits• Fairfax County estimates its

trees provide $54 million of“ecosystem services” annually.(2007).

• Arlington County estimates itstrees provide $1.8 million in airpollution control and over $6.8million in storm-water controlannually. (2004)

• Healthy, mature trees can add10% to residential propertyvalues.

$$ Tree Benefits - OnlineNational Tree Benefits Calculatorhttp://www.treebenefits.com

NB Use Firefox or Explorer (not Chrome)List of Tree Benefits and Trees on the

National Tree Benefits Calculator

About $ 23$ 1.49$ 3.08$ 5.10$ 6.05$ 7.07

205 lbsSeeonlinegraph

40 kwh2 therms

$ 6714 gallons

10EasternRedbud

1

OverallBenefits $Annually

CO2Reduction

AirQualityBenefits

Energy:Electricityand GasSavings

PropertyValueRaised

StormwaterInterceptionSavings

DBH(inches)

SpeciesTree#

Tree Map - Google MapsSteps:1. Identify tree, photo, measure

DBH, record data2. Research tree attributes and

calculate tree benefits3. Locate site or schoolyard on

Google Maps4. Find your tree and add to the

Google Map with attributesand benefits

APS Syphax Building Parking Lot

E.g. ATS Schoolyard Garden

E.g. Wilson Park Tree Surveywilsonparktreesurvey.blogspot.com

• Virginia Museum ofNatural History

• Use Google blogspotto inventory trees

• Then link to GoogleMaps

ResourcesTREE ID, INVENTORY, MAPSThe Sibley Guide to Trees, David Sibley ($40)Common Native Trees of Virginia, Virginia Department of

Forestry ($2 each)• FORSite Basics of Tree ID

http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/forsite/Idtree.htm• The FORSite website has links to:• 4-H Key to Leaves of Virginia Trees

– http://www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/forsite/key/intro.htm• Dendrology at Virginia Tech

– http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/main.htm• The VT Dendrology website has links to:• Dichotomous Leaf and Twig Keys

– http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/idit.htm• Tree Fact Sheets

– http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/factsheets.cfm

• TreeStewards of Arlington and Alexandria– http://treestewards.org/

• Tree Benefits and List of Trees for National Tree BenefitCalculator

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BpgxNVAjxqEAFtagvlveHNgTsrQoBI0afoQLgJ-t7FM/edit?hl=en&authkey=CI6PhZ8L#

• Tree Benefit Calculator www.treebenefits.com useFirefox browser

• Wilson Park Tree Survey, Virginia Museum of NaturalHistory, Martinsville VA wilsonparktreesurvey.blogspot.com

• ATS Schoolyard Garden Map - emailmaryvandyke4@gmail.com

TREE CURRICULUM and LESSONS• Growing Native Curriculum - Potomac Watershed

http://www.growingnative.org/pcgn_gncurr.htl• Wood Magic - A wood science curriculum for nine

to eleven year oldshttp://pubs.ext.vt.edu/388/388-807/388-807.html

• Two lessons on Tree ID Resources via ElizabethAblott. Could be updated with the info in this ppt.

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0BwBQ0686r6g-ZmQ5YTViY2MtM2FlNS00NWNhLTkzZmEtOGMwZTljNDVkMGQx&hl=en

• Casey Trees - click on ROOTS pdf on link belowhttp://www.caseytrees.org/education/school-

planting/index.php• Make Your Own Diameter Tapes

http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/plt/activities/How_to_make_your_own_diameter_tape.pdf

• Project Learning Tree- enrichment lessons http://www.plt.org/#21 Adopt a Tree# 67 How Big is Your Tree?# 68 Name That Tree

SCHOOL-BASED TREE NURSERIES• Jim Egenrieder, School-Based Grow Out Stations

http://www.growingnative.org/pdfs/School-BasedGOS-1.pdf

• Mary Van Dyke, How to Set up a Tree Nurseryhttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1BfXrXDRqgacmterP2L3-P5XRpgiZe_05Zekf7ewDlC4/edit?hl=en&authkey=CIGD4YsC#

Thanks!Lisa Deaton, Ellen Powell, Barbara White, Jim McGlone

Virginia Department of Forestry

Eric WisemanAsst. Prof. Urban ForestryDept of Forest Resources & EnvironmentalConservation, Virginia Tech

Denny CaseyDirector of Education and Public ProgramsVirginia Museum of Natural History

Carol Herwig, Sue Erhardt, Tom BuckleyCasey Trees, Washington DC

Caroline Temmermand, Jamie Bartalon, Patrick WegengLandscape and Forestry, Arlington County

Nora Palmatier, Larry Finch, Steve CampbellTree Stewards of Arlington Alexandria

Elizabeth Ablott, Alison SheahanArlington Public Schools

Jim EgenriederArlington Public Schools, Virginia Tech

Further info contact: Mary Van Dyke,maryvandyke4@gmail.com, 571 425 5278