BMP - Tree Inventories - 6

1. Goals and Objectives
The first step in the inventory process is establishing the goals and objectives.
Managers must carefully consider their requirements and priorities, because
these dictate what information is needed and how it is processed and managed.
In addition, each attribute that is included can affect the cost of data collection
and database management.

Needs
It is important to recognize that certain conditions are required for an inventory to be successful in a given community.
* Clear criteria must exist for the trees that are to be included in the
inventory. This may be a list of right-of-way (ROW) tree planting
strip widths for each street, parcel maps with property boundaries, or
other means of defining the geographic limitations of the inventory.
* Sufficient funds and personnel must be available for collecting, managing, and maintaining the data.
* The longevity of the inventory must be determined in advance. Inventories provide a snapshot of the urban forest. If an inventory is to be
used as a dynamic tool for management, a system that incorporates
corrections and updates is essential.
* The manager must be prepared for the obligations and legal implications of possessing tree risk data.
For these reasons, a community should carefully consider whether an inventory is the answer for the particular situation before proceeding.

Inventory Objectives
Tree inventories must be designed from the beginning to achieve various objectives by assessing certain tree attributes. The objectives may vary depending
on the community's needs and resources. The most common inventory objectives are as follows:

Determine Population Size and Characteristics

Inventories count and locate the tree population and, in many cases, the
sites available for tree planting. This enumeration process is a key objective
in most inventories. Tree characteristics such as species, size, and health
are also normally included. These factors can be used to determine tree
species and size diversity, and an overall urban forest health rating. These
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BMP - Tree Inventories

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of BMP - Tree Inventories