First Ever Nationwide Urban Tree Canopy Assessment
"We're thrilled to see the Washington Post sharing the first-ever nationwide urban tree canopy assessment and speaking to the many benefits of greening our cities, which everyone should have access to. This is the kind of press our industry deserves and needs. We are expanding this data to even smaller communities now, so look for that and new heat risk mapping data coming soon!" - Ian Hanou, CEO and Founder of PlanIT Geo
TreePlotter & the Kentucky Derby: Where Champions and Canopies Race!
Derby weekend at Coolmore was an incredible showcase of both world-class racing and the farm’s dedication to sustainability. While Luxor Cafe, Publisher, and American Promise thundered down the track, TreePlotter worked behind the scenes to help the Coolmore team manage over 1,000 trees, track treatments, and train new staff. This commitment to caring for the legendary landscape ensures that Coolmore’s heritage of excellence extends beyond the racetrack. Champions and canopies thrived together, proving that at Coolmore, greatness truly grows from the ground up.
Wildfire-Ready Communities: Strategies for Resilience and Preparedness
ON-DEMAND WEBINAR: This webinar delves into wildfire mitigation, pre-planning, and best practices for incorporating wildfire risk into urban forest management plans. Experts from forestry, fire management, and community engagement will share proactive strategies, including fire-resistant landscaping, community education, and collaborative wildfire mitigation projects across jurisdictions. Attendees will gain valuable insights into certification programs, risk assessment techniques, and practical wildfire prevention solutions. Whether you’re a forestry professional, urban planner, or community leader, this session offers actionable strategies to strengthen wildfire resilience in urban forests and surrounding communities.
Here is a helpful resource for anyone evaluating urban forestry software solutions! USER FOCUS: TreePlotter is designed for urban foresters and offers an all-in-one, browser-based solution with a low to moderate learning curve and robust support. Esri, on the other hand, caters to GIS professionals and requires configuring multiple components for a complete solution.
EASE OF USE: TreePlotter stands out for its guided training, mobile responsiveness, and easy-to-configure data fields and user roles. Esri offers powerful GIS capabilities, but typically requires in-house GIS expertise and more extensive training.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT: TreePlotter provides built-in tools for community engagement, such as public-facing maps and service requests, while Esri’s public interaction features generally require additional setup by a GIS professional.
REPORTING & ECOSYSTEM SERVICES: TreePlotter includes customizable dashboards and integrates with i-Tree for ecosystem services reporting right out of the box. Esri offers similar capabilities, but often needs further configuration or third-party integrations.
PRICING: TreePlotter uses a straightforward subscription model with unlimited users, while Esri’s costs can vary based on the number of tools and users.
If your organization is considering a new urban forestry management platform, this checklist is a great starting point for comparing features, usability, and support.
Phoenix is tackling record-breaking heat with creative, community-driven approaches! ASU and local organizations are teaming up to: GAMIFY URBAN FORESTRY, BUILD A GREEN WORKFORCE, and LEVERAGE COMMUNITY VOICES. This collaborative model not only cools the city but also empowers residents and creates new opportunities. A great example of how science and community engagement can drive resilience! Read more about this innovative concept here:
PlanIT Geo Supports Inclusive Arbor Day Celebration at CSU Spur
PlanIT Geo was proud to have provided a sponsorship to the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) for an Arbor Day Celebration on Friday, April 25, 2025 at the CSU Spur Campus in Denver, CO. This community event brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from the Colorado Governor’s Office, Colorado State University, the U.S. Forest Service, local municipalities, non-profits, and private companies alike, to celebrate trees and communities and how nature can unite us. Our sponsorship helped CSFS provide a Spanish language translator during the event and pay the student music lab for performing a tree song during the ceremony.
A comprehensive statewide tree inventory is a game-changer for urban forestry professionals and policymakers. By unifying data on tree location, condition, and species, you gain the insights needed for informed decision-making, smarter resource allocation, and climate-resilient planning. This powerful tool helps identify trends, fosters collaboration, and strengthens support for tree initiatives at every level.
Leveraging Urban Tree Canopies to Unlock Community Resilience
Urban heat islands make cities significantly hotter-sometimes by as much as 7°F-worsening heat-related illness, increasing energy use, and straining infrastructure. Trees are one of the most effective solutions, cooling neighborhoods through shade and evapotranspiration while improving air quality and public health. Cities like Dallas have seen heat-related deaths drop by 22% through combined tree planting and cool surface strategies. Addressing urban heat islands with strategic tree canopy expansion and smart surface policies is critical for building resilient, healthy communities in a warming world.
New Smart Surfaces Policy Guide Empowers Cities to Grow Urban Tree Canopies and Boost Climate Resilience
The Smart Surfaces Coalition has just released a powerful new resource to help cities strengthen their urban tree canopies and boost climate resilience. Featured in Smart Cities Dive, the Smart Surfaces Policy Guide offers actionable policy options, model ordinance language, and real-world case studies for urban leaders and advocates.
We’re proud to share that PlanIT Geo’s Tree Ordinance resource is included in this guide, providing municipalities with proven tools to update local tree policies, expand canopy coverage, and secure sustainable funding for urban forestry. With practical examples from cities like Columbus, Salem, and Oakland, this guide is a must-read for anyone working to create greener, cooler, and more resilient communities.
Explore the Smart Surfaces Policy Guide and see how PlanIT Geo’s expertise can help your city lead on urban forestry and climate adaptation.
Urban Forests at Risk: Funding Cuts Threaten City Health and Equity
Federal funding cuts are jeopardizing urban forestry programs that benefit over 220 million Americans, especially in underserved communities. Trees provide critical returns-up to $7 in benefits for every $1 invested-including cleaner air, lower energy costs, and public health protections like reduced asthma cases. Mayors warn that losing this support means fewer trees, more pollution, and higher health risks for vulnerable neighborhoods. With $1.35 billion in USDA funding at stake, leaders urge continued investment in urban forests as essential infrastructure for healthier, more resilient cities.
Stay ahead in the evolving world of urban forestry! The Trees + Tech Summit offers presentations, panel discussions, and networking focused on the latest technology, data, and innovations shaping urban forestry. Attendees gain exposure to cutting-edge tools, actionable strategies for their own communities, continuing education credits, and the opportunity to connect with leaders and peers from public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this dynamic event—sign up for updates and secure your spot as soon as registration becomes available
Urban Heat is More Than Just a Number on a Thermometer
As 2024 set new global temperature records, urban foresters, city leaders, and planners face an urgent question: Are we measuring heat in ways that actually help us protect communities and design resilient cities? The latest World Resources Institute article, "Beyond the Thermometer: 5 Heat Metrics That Drive Better Decision-Making," dives into why traditional temperature readings fall short and introduces a suite of advanced metrics-from land surface temperature to thermal comfort indices-that capture the true experience of urban heat. Discover how these tools can guide smarter interventions, from targeting cool roofs at the neighborhood scale to optimizing shade for pedestrian comfort.
Miami-Dade Calls on Residents to Help Double Tree Canopy
Miami-Dade is on a mission to DOUBLE its tree canopy to 30%—but they need RESIDENTS to help make it happen! The county is rolling out programs like Million Trees Miami and Adopt-a-Tree, offering free trees to residents and partnering with local organizations for community planting events.
They’re focusing on neighborhoods that need shade the most, and are launching door-to-door outreach to encourage everyone to plant and care for trees. Residents, faith groups, and businesses are all invited to join in—whether by adopting trees, volunteering at planting events, or simply caring for the trees in their yards.
