Individual Tree Data Standard

Abstract

It is estimated that 40 million trees in the UK have been surveyed and the data stored in local authority databases. Data for just 1.1 million of these trees are included in the UK’s and world’s largest open-access tree database, Treezilla (https://treezilla.org/). Tree surveys are carried out for different purposes and often to different specifications. Many tree data collection protocols and methods overlap in their recommendations but differences between them make it difficult or impossible to compare, combine, or reuse data. To address these problems in 2019 the COMMUNITREE project partners drafted a new data standard for surveys of individual trees. The steps taken to develop the data standard are described in detail here: https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/research/quantification-and-valuation-of-benefits-provided-by-urban-trees/individual-tree-data-standard/ . Standardised tree data collection and recording will enable people to easily share their data so that a single dataset can be recycled for many purposes. The Individual Tree Data Standard is a partnership between Forest Research, The Open University, Treework Environmental Practice, Natural Apptitude and was funded by Innovate UK and the Geospatial Commission