Plan-it GEO

Heading to Greater & Greener in Austin next week? Come find the PlanIT Geo and TreePlotter team and let’s talk about how urban forests and parks can anchor truly resilient cities.

Catch up with:
☑️ Matt Grubisich – Director of Public Sector
☑️Alec Sabatini – Urban Forestry Specialist
☑️Chris Peiffer – Director of Urban Forestry Strategy

Be sure to mark your schedule 🗓️ for our session | Tuesday, June 16 | 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM | Room 603 | 6th Floor
“NATURE AS INFRASTRUCTURE: BUILDING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES – Aligning parks, forests, and open spaces with climate, community, and investment goals,” presented by Alec Sabatini and Chris Peiffer. We’ll dig into practical ways cities can treat nature as critical infrastructure, connect climate action with equity, and make a stronger case for investment in parks, trees, and open space.

When you are not in sessions, stop by PlanIT Geo and TreePlotter at Booth #16 in the exhibit hall. We’d love to:
💡Swap ideas on urban forestry strategy and green infrastructure
📉Show how canopy data and mapping tools can support your climate and investment goals
🌇Talk about real-world examples from cities we’ve helped plan, fund, and implement resilient green networks

Greater & Greener is all about using parks and public spaces to build more sustainable, vibrant, and equitable cities, and we’re excited to be part of that conversation in Austin. See you there!
https://bit.ly/4e5Wwam

Urban forestry isn’t just about trees—it’s about people, partnerships, and shared purpose.

At the recent Trees in the West conference, one message came through loud and clear: successful urban forestry programs don’t happen in silos. They thrive when municipalities, utilities, nonprofits, consultants, and communities align around a common vision.

But alignment doesn’t happen by accident.

It takes intentional collaboration, clear communication, and the willingness to bring diverse voices to the table—especially when priorities differ. Whether it’s balancing infrastructure needs with canopy goals or engaging residents in long-term stewardship, the strongest outcomes come from teams that are truly working together.

In our latest blog, we reflect on key takeaways from the conference and explore why urban forestry is, at its core, a team sport—and what that really means for communities trying to grow and sustain their urban canopy.

If you’re thinking about how to break down silos, strengthen partnerships, or move from planning to action, this is a conversation worth diving into.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/3S1pAIC

Battery Park City is facing a challenge that many coastal communities will recognize: how to build climate resilience without losing the mature trees that define the neighborhood. As a TreePlotter client, the Battery Park City Authority (BPCA) is in a rare position to navigate this moment with real data, not just difficult headlines.

BPCA has completed a full urban tree canopy assessment and a detailed plant inventory, documenting hundreds of species across the neighborhood. That living dataset is visualized in an interactive TreePlotter map, giving staff and the public a clear view of where trees are, what species they are, and the role they play in biodiversity, shade, and stormwater.

✴️Ground contentious tree removal and resilience projects in transparent, map‑based data.
✴️Identify which mature trees provide the highest ecosystem services before making design decisions.
✴️Communicate tradeoffs clearly with residents using visuals instead of PDFs and public‑meeting sound bites.
✴️Track replanting over time to show how canopy and benefits are restored, not just promised.

Battery Park City is an example of what’s possible when urban forestry, climate resilience, and data all come together in one place. See Battery Park City’s TreePlotter map in action and imagine what this level of insight could do for your own resilience planning.

TreePlotter app: https://bit.ly/4dYREoH
Read the article: https://bit.ly/4eivegZ

On a former asphalt roadway at Rutgers, a forest is taking root. Students, faculty, and neighbors came together on the Livingston campus to plant thousands of native trees and shrubs, transforming an abandoned road into a vibrant “tiny forest” and a hopeful story about what campuses can become.

What stays with me is the human side: first-time planters learning how to tuck seedlings into the soil, researchers explaining how this dense planting will grow into a resilient ecosystem, and volunteers realizing they’re helping shape a living legacy on their own campus. This space will grow with them over the years—a place to study climate resilience, gather as a community, and see the impact of one day’s work turn into decades of canopy.

At PlanIT Geo, we’re lucky to support many universities on similar journeys, using TreePlotter to help campus teams understand and care for the trees their communities depend on. Stories like Rutgers’ new forest remind us that when people, data, and vision come together, even an old road can turn into roots and shade for future students.

https://bit.ly/4wjNvCQ

Cities are finally moving beyond “more green is always better.” Recent research on ecosystem disservices shows that the same green networks that cool our streets and boost biodiversity can also spread wildfire, pests, allergens, or disease risk if they’re not designed carefully.

The opportunity now is “smart green” planning: mapping both benefits and risks, then adjusting corridors, species, and maintenance so nature still delivers shade, stormwater management, and well-being without amplifying hazards.

As climate pressures grow, the next generation of green infrastructure will be judged not just by how lush it looks, but by how well it balances services and disservices to keep cities safe, livable, and resilient.
https://go.nature.com/4noQtlg

📣Check out the MAY 2026 issue of CommuniTREE News with the latest in trees and tech news:
☑️FEATURED CONTENT: Embracing New Tech: Tree Inventory Collection With TreeD Mobile LiDAR Technology
☑️GUIDE: Tree Inventory vs. Tree Canopy Assessment-What's the Difference?
☑️REPORT: National Baseline Assessment of Urban and Community Forests
☑️ARTICLE: Schoolyard Canopy Enhancement Program
☑️UPCOMING EVENTS: 2026 Tree Cities of the World Forum, Greater Greener, FUFC Urban Forestry Summit 2026
☑️PODCAST: Trees Don’t Make Cities Livable They Make Cities Survivable
☑️ARTICLE: Small Gardens - Big Impact
☑️WEBINAR SERIES: Mobile LiDAR for Urban Forestry Webinar Series

Read the full 🌳MAY 2026🌲 CommuniTREE Newsletter here:
https://bit.ly/457vfyl

Here's an interesting finding from new research about city parks: the dense tree clusters that cool you down during a summer day may actually be trapping heat at night. Concordia University

Concordia researchers studied 13 Montreal parks and found that tree arrangement affects cooling in opposite ways depending on the time of day. Concordia University

THE MOST INTERESTING PART? Open grass areas — often hotter than pavement at noon — cooled down fastest after sunset, helping parks release stored heat overnight. Concordia University

This matters because during heat waves, nighttime cooling is critical for human health. Our bodies need those cooler hours to recover.

The research suggests a NEW WAY OF THINKING about urban park design: maybe it's not just about maximizing shade, but about creating the right balance for round-the-clock comfort.

Full study here: https://bit.ly/42MhhT0

How do you think cities should balance daytime shade with nighttime cooling?

Tree inventories are the backbone of effective urban forest management—but most cities struggle to keep them current.

That’s where TreeD™ Hybrid Tree Inventory and Mobile LiDAR come in.

In our latest blog, we break down how a hybrid approach lets you:
-Use Mobile LiDAR to rapidly map trees and clearances across your right‑of‑way
-Focus ISA Certified Arborists on validation, risk, and priorities—not just measuring
-Share the same rich dataset across multiple departments, stretching limited budgets

If you’re writing an RFP, trying to modernize an aging inventory, or just curious what LiDAR really means for your urban forest, this piece is for you.

👉 Read the blog: Embracing New Tech: Tree Inventory Collection With Mobile LiDAR Technology https://bit.ly/4ukvsuY

What questions do you have about using Mobile LiDAR in your tree inventory work?

🌳 Planting Trees During Drought? Colorado Springs Shows How It's Done 🌳

While 98% of Colorado faces drought conditions, Colorado Springs isn't hitting pause on urban forestry—they're getting strategic about it.

Through their "Grow Shade Together" program, the city is planting 3- to 5-year-old trees throughout Colorado Springs, despite Colorado experiencing one of its driest years on record.

Here's their approach:
-SMART SPECIES SELECTION - Instead of water-hungry cottonwoods, the city now opts for drought-tolerant species like Kentucky Coffee trees, bur oak, hackberries, and catalpa that thrive once established.
- LONG-TERM VISION - City forester Matthew Puckett explains: as trees mature, they help with long-term water conservation by keeping moisture on the ground—without trees, water evaporates quickly off pavement.
-CLEAR PRIORITIES - If water restrictions force residents to choose between lawns or young trees, the city tells them to prioritize the trees for their long-term benefits.

The Takeaway: Climate adaptation requires thinking in decades, not seasons. By selecting drought-tolerant species and educating residents, communities can build resilience even during resource scarcity.

What innovative approaches is your community taking to balance immediate constraints with long-term environmental goals?
Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/3R6ggTy