I’ve constantly criticized local media moaning and groaning over the loss of trees here in Greensboro, suggesting that they need look out over the city from top of the UNCG to note the expanse of green covering our city.
Turns out a study using the latest technology reveals that 50 percent of Guilford County is covered by trees:
Greensboro last studied its tree canopy almost a decade ago, based on satellite images taken in 1984, 1993 and 2000. Those pictures showed that the city had lost 18 percent of its tree cover during those years, motivating the city to adopt a tree ordinance that requires developers to save or replace some of the trees they cut down.
The previous study, however, was based on obsolete technology that showed 30 square meters of land per pixel, Cusimano said. The cameras used in the newer study can show 6 inches per pixel, thus capturing more trees than could be shown before. The new study also expanded its scope to examine coverage countywide, both by municipality and watershed.
Urban forester Michael Cusimano notes “having the sharper images back in 2000 could have changed residents’ interpretation of the city’s tree loss.” Could have changed the media’s interpretation, too. Maybe.
