---
title: "Assessing Urban Forest Patch Health: A Protocol from Baltimore"
slug: "assessing-urban-forest-health-protocol-baltimore"
tags: ["baltimore", "urban forested natural area", "assessment", "GIS", "data management", "protocol"]
updated: 2022-05-25T16:31:43Z
published: 2022-05-25T16:31:43Z
canonical: "fic.naturalareasnyc.org/assessing-urban-forest-health-protocol-baltimore"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://fic.naturalareasnyc.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Assessing Urban Forest Patch Health: A Protocol from Baltimore

This forest health protocol was developed by Baltimore Greenspace for use in the many forest patches across the city. Designed to understand a series of baseline environmental measures, using this protocol will provide a snapshot of forest health that include soil quality, understory species, overstory species, and their relative dominance. This protocol includes practical, accessible how-tos for collecting samples and analyzing data, a glossary of terms, and a native plant species list and their plant codes.

### In a nutshell, this resource offers:

- An accessible guide to understand and conduct research on urban forest patch health.
- A tutorial on how to use Google Earth and Excel to find forest patches and establish plots for forest health sampling.
- A description of what field supplies you will need to conduct a forest health assessment.
- Tips for working in the field: health, safety, using GPS, and collecting data.
- Data sheet templates.

### How to use this resource:

- As a guide for stewards and staff to collect data on forest health in urban forested natural areas.
- As an example for drafting a protocol that is specific to your own forest type.

**Author:** Baltimore Green Space; University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Johns Hopkins University; and the USDA Forest Service.

**Date published:** 2021

**P****oint of contact:** Baltimore Greenspace, [info@baltimoregreenspace.org](mailto:info@baltimoregreenspace.org)

[Resource is available online here](https://baltimoregreenspace.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/urban-forest-patches-manual.pdf).

[PDF document](https://cdn.document360.io/18a9acd7-787d-47fa-9b54-01592bb1d507/Images/Documentation/forest_health_urban-forest-patches-manual_baltimore.pdf)

## Related

- [Upland and Forest Ecological Assessment Protocol for New York City](/upland-and-forest-ecological-assessment-protocol-nyc.md)
- [Green Seattle Partnership Inventory Protocol](/green-seattle-partnership-inventory-protocol.md)
- [Distribution, Benefits, and Regulations of Baltimore’s Forest Patches](/distribution-benefits-regulations-baltimore-forest-patches.md)
- [Forest Patch First Aid: A Guide for Volunteer Forest Stewardship in Baltimore](/forest-patch-first-aid-baltimore.md)
- [Preservation, Regulations, and Policy to Protect and Grow Baltimore's Forests](/preservation-regulations-policy-protect-grow-baltimore-forests.md)