Interactive online guide will educate residents about Columbia's urban forest

(COLUMBIA, MO) -

An online story map designed to educate the public about Columbia’s urban forest is ready to launch this summer. The Davey Resource Group created the web-based story map as an interactive guide for use by the general public. Urban forests, through planned connections of green spaces, form the green infrastructure on which communities depend.

The project is a product of a $25,000 Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance (TRIM) Grant from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC).

"We were really happy to receive the TRIM grant through the Department of Conservation," Columbia Public Works Engineering and Operations Manager Richard Stone said. "It’s great to have a partnership with MDC and to draw on their expertise as we manage our urban forest."

In 2017, the City’s arborist and Public Works Street Division asked and received City Council authorization to enter into a cooperative agreement with MDC to hire the Davey Resource Group to create the online story map and provide expertise regarding Columbia’s urban forest. The next step will be to present the information to City Council later this year and get feedback on engaging the general public about the urban forest and how the base data that’s been collected can be used.

"As we move forward, there is still work to be done to engage the public about our urban forest," Stone said. "However, these data and tools will be instrumental in better proactively managing street trees and working with the general public with all aspects of our urban forest."