Project Overview

From Bugwoodwiki

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		Tools for Assessing and Managing Community Forests

Background

Urban areas are frequently the first site of introduction for exotic pests, where they remain undetected until populations are well established and have had harmful impacts on the health of host trees. Many communities routinely complete and update tree inventories, but often overlook pest infestations because pest detection tools are not part of the inventory process. There are also no processes in place for aggregating pest inventory data into a standardized form, which would allow communities to analyze pest trends that are otherwise difficult to detect across geographic or political boundaries.

Project Goal

The goal of I-PED—Inventory Pest Evaluation, Detection, and Reporting—is to develop, disseminate,implement, and establish a state-of-the-art, long-term national urban pest detection and monitoring network.

Development

Communities conduct tree inventories as part of ongoing efforts to manage their urban forests, maintain acceptable tree canopy cover, and manage tree risk. For this project, programmers added an IPED function tab to the existing inventory software program called i-Tree. This suite of urban forest management tools was developed by the U.S. Forest Service and supported by The Davey Institute.

For more information about i-Tree software, visit http://www.itreetools.org/.

To download the software for free, click the "Get the Tools" buttom above.

For more information about i-Tree Streets and the beta IPED module, visit http://www.itreetools.org/street_trees/streets_IPED.shtm

When completed, the I-PED protocol will provide:

• A standardized method of observing a tree for possible

insect or disease problems.

• An easy-to-use pest detection protocol that integrates pest

detection into a variety of tree inventory methods.

• A national database that will enable pest specialists to access

regional pest data to search for pest detection anomalies and trends.

• Extensive user support through online resources, integration

with established pest identification and reporting networks, and training.