Urban Forestry / Urban Tree Canopy - News, Events, and Resources

Urban Tree Canopy (UTC) Analysis Reports Now Available
The Virginia Department of Forestry in collaboration with the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission and participating local governments has completed an Urban Tree Canopy (UTC) analysis for the Roanoke Valley. The goal of the project was to apply the USDA Forest Service’s UTC assessment protocols to localities in the Roanoke Valley. The UTC analysis report and associated GIS files are available to assist local governments and other stakeholders in conducting similar analyses on selected "geographies" in the study area. Additional iinformation is available from the Urban Tree Canopy Analysis of Virginia Localities website.

Roanoke Valley Urban Tree Canopy Reports:
City of Roanoke
City of Salem
Roanoke County*
Town of Vinton
RVARC Area*

*Includes only areas within the MPO study area boundary

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Project Background and Study Area
The Regional Commission is partnering with local governments and the Virginia Depertment of Forestry to conduct a Roanoke Valley Urban Tree Canopy Analysis. The project is funded, in part, by a grant from the Water Quality Improvement Fund, Regional Grants Program. These funds are provided by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and are administered by the Virginia Department of Forestry. Local governments participating in the project include Roanoke County, the cities of Roanoke and Salem, and the Town of Vinton. Additional UTC stakeholders include the Roanoke Valley Urban Forestry Council and the Roanoke Valley Governors School.

The Roanoke Valley UTC project study area includes the "urbanized" areas of the Roanoke Valley, which includes all of the cities of Roanoke and Salem, and the Town of Vinton, and portions of Roanoke County. To ensure that areas of Roanoke County that are "urbanizing" are covered in the UTC analysis, urbanized portions of Roanoke County were based on the Roanoke Valley Area Metropolitan Planning Organization 2035 study area.

Roanoke Valley UTC Analysis Study Area Map
Urban Tree Canopy Fact Sheet

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Project Methodology
The Roanoke Valley UTC Analysis project will utilize National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) aerial photography, Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, and other spatial data to "classify" land uses in the study area (i.e., tree canopy, impervious surface, open space, etc.).Using GIS technology and other spatial data (roads, parks, parcel, built areas, etc.), the resulting "classification" data layer (GIS shapefile) will be used to conduct additional analysis, assist participating localities in setting urban tree canopy goals, and developing a ways to achieve UTC goals. The Roanoke Valley UTC Analysis project will also provide information highlighting the importance and benefits of urban tree canopy. Additionally the UTC analysis work products will complement existing urban forestry plans and initiatives to promote increased urban tree canopy in the study area.

UTC Assessment Model Data Requirements
Forest Opportunity Spectrum Fact Sheet

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Local Urban Forestry Plans and Documents
City of Roanoke Urban Forestry
City of Salem - Urban Forest Overlay District
Urban Ecosystem Analysis, Roanoke Virginia
Virginia Geospatial Newsletter - Fall 2008 (see articles Remote Sensing Initiative Supports Local Government Urban Tree Canopy Policies and 2008 NAIP Imagery Now Available for Virginia)
Protecting and Developing the Urban Tree Canopy: A 135-City Survey (U.S. Conference of Mayors Best Practices series). The City of Roanoke's Urban Forestry Plan is featured on p.31.

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Additional Links and Resources
NAIP Imagery from VGIN
Protecting and Developing the Urban Tree Canopy: A 135-City Survey
Urban Natural Resources Institute
Trees Virginia - Virginia Urban Forestry Council
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
Virginia Department of Forestry - Urban and Community Forestry
Virginia Geospatial Newsletter Fall 2008