Case Study: Morton Arboretum gains insights into Chicago’s urban forest with Davey Resource Group’s i-Tree Eco inventory

Morton Arboretum completes 1,600-plot tree inventory with Davey

The Morton Arboretum required an updated and comprehensive analysis of the regional urban forest in the Chicago area to understand how it had changed over the previous decade due to factors like invasive pests and development. They engaged Davey Resource Group, a division of Davey Tree, to perform a large-scale i-Tree Eco inventory to address this challenge.

Davey implemented a solution by re-inventorying 1,600 pre-established plots throughout Chicago and seven surrounding counties. Teams of arborists and interns collected detailed data on land use, canopy cover, and individual tree metrics. The deliverables provided by Davey included the raw data and a written report, which gave the Arboretum an unparalleled look at regional forestry trends. This information enables the Morton Arboretum to focus its programs, guide research, and direct the activities of the Chicago Region Trees Initiative with the latest data.

Morton Arboretum