The Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee’s next Environmental Issues Forum is on June 17 to hear a presentation on the USDA Forest Service’s i-Tree Program.

The Forum will start at Noon in Room G-50 of the K. Leroy Irvis Building.

Guest presenter Dr. David J. Nowak, PhD, project leader with the USDA Forest Service’s Northern Research Station in Syracuse, NY, will discuss the agency’s innovative “i-Tree” system. Dr. Nowak was a leader in developing i-Tree, and will describe its features, how to use it and its applications in Pennsylvania.

The i-Tree system – first released in 2006 - is free to use and is self-described as a “state-of-the-art, peer-reviewed computer software suite containing urban forest inventory and analysis tools.”  

It offers a diversity of applications to help communities assess and care for neighborhood trees and forests, measure ecosystem benefits from forests, and provide information to help in decision-making and education.

The Forest Service designed i-Tree specifically to meet community needs, whether the community is a large city or a small municipality. Among its prospective users are state forest agencies, municipalities, non-profits, consultants, volunteers, students and anyone interested in learning more about and providing better care for community forest resources.

Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) is the Chair of the Joint Committee.

5/20/2013