Henrico's tree inventory and canopy assessment

Henrico County’s Sustainability Division is continuing its partnership with Capital Trees to assess the tree canopy at county parks and green spaces. Canopy assessments are vital because data provide a clearer understanding of tree and forest resources and coverage. This information can be vital when considering the environmental aspects of developing county-owned properties and will be included in plans for reforestation.

Two people looking at books in the woods.

This summer, tree inventories were assessed at Springfield Park, Taylor Farm Park and Glover Park. Led by experts from Capital Trees, HEART committee members, county employees and community volunteers used tree guides and ArcGIS data collection software to identify and count the trees at each location. The survey included data on native versus non-native invasive species, tree varieties and overall health of the tree canopy.

Closeup of tree identification book in womans hands.

Volunteers used markers generated by the software to indicate areas to analyze. Teams recorded the height, width, variety and number of trees, and noted the three most common native and non-native invasive species for each point. The most common native trees were loblolly pine, white oak and red oak, and the most common non-native invasive species were the tree-of-heaven and Japanese stiltgrass.

Group of people wearing safety vest posing in the woods.

This initiative aligns with Henrico’s reforestation efforts and encourages community members to do what they can to support a healthy environment. Insights from the data collected will help guide development and contribute to a more resilient tree canopy in the county.