IC student leads effort to inventory trees
For the first time in over a decade, the city of Jacksonville will take inventory of its trees allowing for more accuracy when it comes to the care of the trees and their maintenance budget.
Alana McKean, manager of Starhill Forest Arboretum, connected with the non-profit group Trees Forever about bringing Jacksonville into its “Recover, Replant, Restore” community forestry program. After being selected to participate in the program, the city will be working with Illinois College, the University of Illinois Extension Service and Morgan County to take an inventory of the city’s trees.
Over the next six months, a survey led by Illinois College senior Rachel Helmich '18 of Virginia will be conducted to update the street tree inventory and catalog them geographically using the county’s Geographic Information System.
From a historical perspective, Jacksonville has been known for its trees. We were even known as Elm City for a while. Historically speaking, trees have been important to the town. They’re also great for biodiversity, for insects, for animals, giving them nesting places and food, and they’re aesthetically pleasing.
Helmich along with other volunteers will categorize the type of tree, the tree’s size, the state of the tree’s health, whether or not it is causing any issues with utilities or the sidewalk, and any other notes regarding the tree that could help identify it or indicate the level of maintenance it needs.
Others involved in the project include Barb Grabner-Kerns, program manager with Trees Forever; Tony Ward, city of Jacksonville arborist; Larry Zettler, professor of biology at Illinois College; and other Illinois College students and master gardeners and master naturalists from the University of Illinois Extension Service.
These volunteers are making the project happen with no cost to the city.
Alderman Lori Large Oldenettel '93 said the benefits from the inventory will ultimately be a cost-saver.
This will give us a better understanding of specifically where our trees are located. It’ll also help us find if we need to diversify our trees, in case of diseases of pests such as Dutch elm disease or the Emerald ash borer. Likewise, it will also give us a better understanding of our economic benefits of trees and how it affects our energy efficiency, storm management, and aesthetics.
Mayor Andy Ezard applauded the efforts of all the organizations involved and said he was looking forward to the outcome of the study.
It’s a win for everybody involved. Whenever we can get students involved, with the help of experts, throughout our community it shows that we are all being progressive and looking toward the future.