State of our Urban Forest

In 2004 the Delaware Center for Horticulture (DCH) – with support from the Delaware Forest Service, the City of Wilmington and New Castle County – initiated a study to assess the current state of trees in an area encompassing Wilmington, Newark, Elsmere, New Castle and Newport.

The U.S. Forest Service has developed a suite of computer-based tools called i-Tree that has been used by cities around the world to quantify numerous aspects of urban forests including composition, benefits and value. The data collection and methodologies being used to study northern New Castle County include UFORE (Urban Forest Effects) and STRATUM (Street Tree Assessment Tool for Urban Forest Managers). The scope of this UFORE study included all trees in Wilmington and the New Castle County Metro Corridor (NCCMC). The scope of the STRATUM analysis was limited to public trees (i.e. street trees and city park trees) within the City of Wilmington. Results from the UFORE study and STRATUM inventory analysis provide insight towards the management steps that will increase the environmental, economic, and social benefits of our urban forest. Complete methods and findings are detailed in the official USFS report, which will be posted on the Delaware Center for Horticulture website, dehort.org.