The NYC Tree Map encourages urban denizens to look at trees in a different light. Though trees planted around cities are often thought of as, in essence, an attempt at urban beautification, the NYC Tree Map is a public resource that recognizes the ecological and economic benefits of arbor growth in any city.
The NYC Tree Map is the result of a project carried out by the NYC Parks Department's 'TreesCount!' initiative. In this project, thousands of volunteers learned about the various types of trees planted throughout the city's boroughs. They then toured the city and recorded the trees on the streets.
Beyond a mere act of recording, the NYC Tree Map takes into account the specific environmental (and, ultimately, economic) benefits of each tree by marking things like stormwater interception, energy conservation, air pollutants removed and more.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Urban Greenery
- The NYC Tree Map can inspire the adoption of urban greenery with measurable and profitable economic and ecological benefits.
- Crowdsourced Data Collection
- The NYC Tree Map's use of crowdsourced data collection can be applied to other urban-related initiatives for cost-effective and efficient data gathering and analysis.
- Eco-economic Evaluation
- Using the NYC Tree Map as a model, more cities can evaluate and monetize the ecological benefits of trees, leading to a more sustainable and lucrative urban environment.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Urban Planning and Development
- The impact of urban greenery on the economy and environment is a growing concern for urban planning and development industries.
- Environmental Consulting
- Environmental consulting firms can utilize the data-gathering and analysis methods of the NYC Tree Map in evaluating the impact of urban ecology on the economy.
- Software and Technology
- The development and implementation of user-friendly software for crowdsourcing urban data collection, such as the NYC Tree Map, is a potential opportunity for software and technology companies.
