Ecological assessment and monitoring is crucial for making informed decisions to conserve, sustainably manage, and restore forest resources for current and future generations. While assessment and monitoring data serve many purposes, some of the most foundational are:
- Guiding management: knowledge of native and introduced plant communities informs practitioners about the ecological condition of natural areas. This information is imperative for deciding how to prioritize management strategies, strategically invest management resources, remove problematic species, plant trees and shrubs, conduct maintenance activities, and manage natural areas.
- Adapting to climate change: assessing the composition and health of natural areas can help identify areas vulnerable to climate impacts and prioritize adaptation strategies.
- Prioritizing biodiversity and conservation: through assessment uncommon, rare, and endangered species can be identified to prioritize their protection.
- Communicating about urban forested natural areas: there can be limited information available about the types of natural areas, the quality of them and misconceptions about the lack of high quality forested natural areas due to the urban context. Assessments can help provide a data-driven understanding about the types of habitats, importance of these places for quality of life in cities, and encourage city residents to experience the nature and natural history of their city.
Assessing and Monitoring Urban Forested Natural Area Roadmap
The Assessing and Monitoring Roadmap provides guidance on how to assess urban forested natural area condition (e.g. vegetation structure and composition), management needs, and change over time.
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