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Urban trees
provide numerous benefits to both people and the environment. Trees
improve air and water quality, provide wildlife habitat, increase
property values, attract customers to businesses, and beautify cities.
They help reduce energy consumption, storm water runoff, and mitigate
the urban heat island effect. Research indicates that trees also
contribute to the physical and psychological health of people and
communities. Trees and green spaces in cities have been linked to lower
crime, improved health in children and adults, and enhanced social
interactions in neighborhoods.
Keep
Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc. and the Department of Geography at Indiana
University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) are working
collaboratively with community partners to address the issue of urban
tree canopy cover in Center Township, Indianapolis. The objectives of
the project reported on here are to:
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Create a
new tree canopy map of Center Township;
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Characterize the distribution of tree cover to provide better
information about this important resource;
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Identify
specific neighborhoods for tree planting.
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