Tree Cover Assessment

The Million Trees LA initiative intends to chart a course for sustainable growth through planting and stewardship of trees. This study measures LA's existing tree canopy cover (TCC), determines if space exists for 1 million additional trees, and estimates future benefits from the planting. Benefits were forecast for planting of 1 million trees between 2006 and 2010, and their growth and mortality were projected until 2040. LA's existing TCC was 21%. There is potential to add 2.5 million additional trees to the existing population of 10.8 million, but only 1.3 million of the potential tree sites are deemed realistic to plant. Thus, there is space for planting 1 million new trees. Benefits for the 1-million-tree planting were between $1.33 band $1.95 billion.

The Million Trees LA initiative intends to chart a course for sustainable growth through planting and stewardship of trees. The purpose of this study was to measure Los Angeles's existing tree canopy cover (TCC), determine if space exists for 1 million additional trees, and estimate future benefits from the planting. Highresolution QuickBird remote sensing data, aerial photographs, and geographic information systems were used to classify land cover types, measure TCC, and identify potential tree planting sites. Benefits were forecast for planting of 1 million trees between 2006 and 2010, and their growth and mortality were projected until 2040. Two scenarios reflected low (17 percent) and high (56 percent) mortality rates. Numerical models were used with geographic data and tree size information for coastal and inland climate zones to calculate annual benefits and their monetary value. Los Angeles's existing TCC was 21 percent, and ranged from 7 to 37 percent by council district. There is potential to add 2.5 million additional trees to the existing population of approximately 10.8 million, but only 1.3 million of the potential tree sites are deemed realistic to plant. Thus, there is space for planting 1 million new trees. Benefits for the 1-million-tree planting for the 35-year period were $1.33 billion and $1.95 billion for the high- and low-mortality scenarios, respectively. Average annual benefits were $38 and $56 per tree planted. Eighty-one percent of total benefits were aesthetic/other, 8 percent were stormwater runoff reduction, 6 percent energy savings, 4 percent air quality improvement, and less than 1 percent atmospheric carbon reduction. Recommendations included developing a decisionsupport tool for tree selection and tracking, as well as establishing a model parking lot greening program.

Forest condition is now assessed annually in most European countries. This field book provides details of assessment procedures used by the Forestry Commission in their main monitoring programme. Although this programme is restricted to Sitka spruce, Norway spruce, Scots pine, oak and beech, the techniques that are described are applicable with little or no modification to most other tree species. While emphasis has been placed on the assessment of crown density, a variety of other indexes are also used. These are described and an assessment system is provided for each parameter. The additional indices enable a full description to be made of the condition of a tree.

Drylands cover 41 percent of the Earth's land surface. This publication presents the results of the first global assessment of trees, forests and land use in these lands. The assessment breaks new methodological ground: it relies on the visual interpreation of freely available satellite images, carried out by more than 200 experts in a series of regional workshops. Using a tool called Open Foris ollect Earth, developed by FAO in collaboration with Google, participants gathered and analysed information for mrore than 200 000 sample plots worldwide. For each region, the report summarizes the distribution of forests, other wooded land and other land uses including grasslands, croplands, built-up areas and barren land, across all drylands and by aridity zone. It also estimates tree canopy cover, shrub cover, forest type and presence of trees outside forest. Indicatng that the global drylands contain more than one-quarter of the world's forest area, and that trees are present on 31 percent of the world's dryland area, the report provides a baseline for future monitoring and will support countries in their efforts to identify appropriate investments for the restoration and sustainable management of drylands.

The Scientific Forestry and the associated management practices received significant attraction around the world which resulted in the birth of professional forestry education. In India, the professional forestry education was started in the year 1985 and currently offered at several State Agricultural and Central Universities. The Forestry and Agroforestry has also been incluzed as a subject in various under graduate and Post graduate program of State Agricultural and other conventional universities. This professional education in forestry and introduction of forestry courses to other degree programmes demand a comprehensive text book encompassing all the facets of forests. Against this backdrop, the current book on Introduction To Forestry & Agroforestry is conceived to cater to the needs of professionals in B. Sc (Forestry), B.Sc (Agriculture), B.Sc. (Horticulture) and B.Sc (Sericulture) courses offered at State Agricultural Universities and undergraduate programme of Botany and Environmental Science courses offered at Conventional Universities. Besides, the book can also act as a fast and ready made reference material for the graduates aspiring for State and Central Forest Service Examinations. For any beginner in professional forestry education and competitive examinations, this book will be an asset to understand and learn the principles and practices of forestry coupled with other recent developments in forestry sector.