Since this United States developed the tree assessment tool called i-Tree Eco and introduced it to the Philippines in 2018, various cities in the country like Puerto Princesa, Iloilo and Tagbilaran utilized the technology to save the remaining greenspaces in their respective cities.
i-Tree Eco is a United States Forest Service (USFS)-developed software application to quantify the structure and environmental effects of urban trees and calculate their ecosystem services and value to society. The assessment includes tree inventory and measuring specific parameters such as total tree height, diameter at breast height (DBH), crown base height, canopy size, and crown light exposure, among others.
The digital application, focused on tree analysis and assessment, also delivers data on the benefits of trees like carbon sequestration, carbon storage, oxygen production and avoided runoff, among others.
Tree analysis, including ecosystem services and their corresponding value in Philippine Peso are likewise provided by i-Tree Eco, as well as survey information that can be used to make sound resource management decisions, formulate policies and set priorities for greenspaces of towns and cities.
The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Puerto Princesa, headed by Atty. Carlo B. Gomez, utilizes the tool to save and protect its remaining urban greenspaces, emphasizing the trees’ ecosystem benefits and its importance as habitat to wildlife.
Since 2018, the technology has been instrumental in the city’s public parks, privately-owned resorts, hotels and other accommodation establishments and public and private schools, providing relevant ecosystem services data and information.
Recognizing its importance to other cities, Puerto Princesa’s i-Tree team shared its learnings with Iloilo and Tagbilaran four years ago.
Recently, the CENRO conducted an i-Tree Eco Assessment at Palawan State University (PSU), expanding the reach of its urban forestry program to different schools in the city.
A total of 1,588 trees were inventoried inside PSU.
Gomez said the i-Tree Eco is a mainstay project of the CENRO, with their office conducting tree assessments in several priority areas since 2018. These include the Plaza Cuartel, an old military headquarters transformed into a plaza; the New City Hall complex located in Barangay Sta. Monica, the sprawling Balayong People’s Park and Acacia Tunnel.
The CENRO also inventoried a total of 412 trees over a 1.865-hectare tree cover at Palawan National School, the city’s biggest public educational institution.
According to the analysis, trees at PNS are estimated to store 112.6 metric tons, or an equivalent of 112,600kg of carbon per year with an associated value of P1,020,000.00.
In addition, the trees’ carbon sequestration at PNS is about 9.423 metric tons (9,423 kg) of carbon per year with an associated value of P85,600.00 per year. They are also estimated to produce 25.13 metric tons (25,130 kg) of oxygen per year and help reduce runoff by an estimated 315.1 cubic meters (315,100 liters) a year with as an associated value of P36,000.00 per year.
“i-Tree tool is an aggressive approach in combating climate change and to save the remaining trees and urban forests of the city,” Atty. Gomez explained.
As part of their plans, the CENRO plans to develop a system to rate the environmental standings of tourism establishments based on the ecosystem services provided by the trees and a policy to encourage resort and hotel owners to dedicate a space for planting trees.
