Urban & Community

2017 Shade Tree Planting Prioritization

The intent of the Shade Tree Planting Prioritization (STPP) analysis is to:2016 AZ STPP Sun Valley

  • Rapidly and strategically assess Arizona’s urban forest communities to inform Urban and Community Forestry planning
  • Identify Arizona’s underserved cities and communities based on state-wide, best available, and relevant socio-economic and environmental data
  • Account for a city’s commitment to their urban forest (sustainability) as it applies to UCF partnerships and projects
  • Keep spatial and quantitative analysis simple and transparent
  • Generate summaries and geospatial products for internal and public dissemination

The analysis and products will inform future DFFM priorities for program delivery and may be used directly by communities for their management needs. 

How Can The Prioritization Maps Help Me?

Resident Compare neighborhoods and inform community action
HOA Justify shade tree planting and maintenance costs
Municipality Identify underserved neighborhoods and promote shade tree planting and maintenance
Non-profit Target and maximize volunteer tree planting and care efforts
Business  Identify potential markets for tree nurseries ("hot" spots)
Identify areas with possibly larger tree maintenance needs ("cool" spots)
Regional Planning Organizations 
(RTA, MAG, PAG, etc.) 		 Support long-term planning initiatives
Aide obtaining funding for specific projects

Products And Services

2016 AZ STPP Report cover pagePDF Download 2017 Shade Tree Planting Prioritization Reportupdated 09/24/2018
Summary of the intent, methodology, and results of the 2017 Shade Tree Planting Prioritization analysis. 

2016 STPP Atlas cover pagePDF Download 2017 Shade Tree Planting Prioritization Atlas updated 09/24/2018
11" by 17" Atlas of shade tree planting prioritization maps for Arizona's 95 largest cities and towns.

2016 AZ STPP Advanced Web Map2017 Shade Tree Planting Prioritization Advanced Web Map updated 10/21/2020 
Advanced interactive online map of the analysis results.

 

 

 

2016 AZ STPP Advanced Web Map animation

  • Turn on and off STPP layers
  • Switch the basemap between road map, satellite image, topographic map, etc.
  • Access to STPP sub-index layers:
    • ​Population Density Index
    • Lack of Canopy Cover Index
    • Low-Income Index
    • Traffic Proximity Index
    • Sustainability Index
    • Air Quality Index
    • Heat and Developed Imperviousness Index
  • ​Click on Census Block Group polygons to access attributes.
    Note: Only STPP Indexes and attributes denoted with a * are Census Block Group level estimates. All other are city-wide estimates.

2016 AZ STPP Simple Web Map 2017 Shade Tree Planting Prioritization Simple Web Map updated 03/11/2019
Simple interactive online map of the analysis results.

Population 1 to 1,000
Zoom to:  Duncan, Hayden, Jerome, Patagonia, Tusayan, Winkelman,

Population 1,001 to 5,000
Zoom to:  Benson, Carefree, Chinle, Clarkdale, Clifton, Colorado City, Dewey Humboldt, Eagar, Fredonia, Gila Bend, Huachuca City, Kearny, Mammoth, Miami, Parker, Pima, Pinetop-Lakeside, Quartzsite, San Carlos, Springerville, St. Johns, Star Valley, Superior, Taylor, Tombstone, Wellton, Willcox, Williams,

Population 5,001 to 10,000
Zoom to:  Bisbee, Cave Creek, Globe, Guadalupe, Holbrook, Kayenta, Litchfield Park, Page, Safford, Snowflake, South Tucson, Thatcher, Tolleson, Wickenburg, Winslow, Youngtown,

Population 10,001 to 50,000
Zoom to:  Apache Junction, Bullhead City, Camp Verde, Chino Valley, Coolidge, Cottonwood, Douglas, El Mirage, Eloy, Florence, Fountain Hills, Green Valley, Kingman, Marana, Maricopa, Nogales, Oro Valley, Paradise Valley, Payson, Prescott, Prescott Valley, Queen Creek, Sahuarita, San Luis, Sedona, Show Low, Sierra Vista, Somerton,

Population 50,001 to 100,000
Zoom to:  Avondale, Buckeye, Casa Grande, Flagstaff, Goodyear, Lake Havasu City, Yuma,

Population 100,001 and larger
Zoom to: Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Mesa, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Surprise, Tempe, Tucson,

Esri GeoDB Icon 2017 Shade Tree Planting Prioritization GIS Data  (hosted by AZGeo Hub) Updated 3/11/2019
GIS data of analysis results (hosted feature service). 

 

 

USDA Forest ServiceMajor funding provided by the USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Program. 

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)

 

Use Disclaimer

Use is granted to public agencies, educational institutions, non-profit organizations and private individuals for non-commercial purposes. For commercial use of the Department of Forestry and Fire Management maps and data see Arizona Revised Statutes 39-121.03. The Department makes no warranties, implied or expressed, with respect to the accuracy of and the use of this data for any specific purpose. Users are required to make their own assessment of the data for any specific use.

Disclaimer Of Non-Endorsement

References herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the Department or USDA Forest Service. The views and opinions of individuals expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Department or USDA Forest Service, and shall not be used for advertising or product-endorsement purposes.

Geospatial Disclaimer

Property line representations and/or any other type of boundary, linear or point location representations contained within this data or displayed within this product are approximate, and cannot be used for authoritative location purposes. Users should independently research, investigate and verify all information before relying on it or using it in the preparation of legal documents. Legally-defensible property boundaries can only be established by state-registered professional land surveyors. A list of Arizona Registered Land Surveyors is available at btr.az.gov.

2016 Shade Tree Planting Prioritization

DISCONTINUED - see updated 2017 Shade Tree Planting Prioritization

The intent of the Shade Tree Planting Prioritization (STPP) analysis is to:2016 AZ STPP Sun Valley

  • Rapidly and strategically assess Arizona’s urban forest communities to inform Urban and Community Forestry planning
  • Identify Arizona’s underserved cities and communities based on state-wide, best available, and relevant socio-economic and environmental data
  • Account for a city’s commitment to their urban forest (sustainability) as it applies to UCF partnerships and projects
  • Keep spatial and quantitative analysis simple and transparent
  • Generate summaries and geospatial products for internal and public dissemination

The analysis and products will inform future DFFM priorities for program delivery and may be used directly by communities for their management needs. 

How Can The Prioritization Maps Help Me?

Resident Compare neighborhoods and inform community action
HOA Justify shade tree planting and maintenance costs
Municipality Identify underserved neighborhoods and promote shade tree planting and maintenance
Non-profit Target and maximize volunteer tree planting and care efforts
Business  Identify potential markets for tree nurseries ("hot" spots)
Identify areas with possibly larger tree maintenance needs ("cool" spots)
Regional Planning Organizations 
(RTA, MAG, PAG, etc.) 		 Support long-term planning initiatives
Aide obtaining funding for specific projects

 

 

 

USDA Forest ServiceMajor funding provided by the USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Program. 

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)

 

Use Disclaimer

Use is granted to public agencies, educational institutions, non-profit organizations and private individuals for non-commercial purposes. For commercial use of the Department of Forestry and Fire Management maps and data see Arizona Revised Statutes 39-121.03. The Department makes no warranties, implied or expressed, with respect to the accuracy of and the use of this data for any specific purpose. Users are required to make their own assessment of the data for any specific use.

Disclaimer Of Non-Endorsement

References herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the Department or USDA Forest Service. The views and opinions of individuals expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Department or USDA Forest Service, and shall not be used for advertising or product-endorsement purposes.

Geospatial Disclaimer

Property line representations and/or any other type of boundary, linear or point location representations contained within this data or displayed within this product are approximate, and cannot be used for authoritative location purposes. Users should independently research, investigate and verify all information before relying on it or using it in the preparation of legal documents. Legally-defensible property boundaries can only be established by state-registered professional land surveyors. A list of Arizona Registered Land Surveyors is available at btr.az.gov.

Edible Trees

Public and commercial orchards and nurseries that provide edible trees in Arizona.

Desert Canopy - Air Quality in Southwest Urban Forests

Project Partners: Arizona State Forestry, City of Phoenix, New Mexico EMNRD Forestry Division, City of Albuquerque, City of Las Cruces, Texas A&M University Forest Service, and the City of El Paso.

Public Information Dissemination Partner: Arizona State University/ Sustainable Cities Network, Julie Anne Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability

Project Summary

A multi-state project funded by the USDA Forest Service to conduct urban forestry ecosystem services assessments in partnering communities. This project utilized i-Tree Eco to capture baseline data that may be used to assist communities to develop municipal and regional planning goals and implement strategies that address regional attainment of federal air quality standards. Four communities (Phoenix, AZ; Albuquerque, NM; Las Cruces, NM and El Paso, TX) located in regions at-risk of not meeting federal air quality standards partnered in this effort to complete assessments. This project aligned a diversity of committed partners and programs in the arena of southwest green infrastructure, and was focused on improving environmental health and community livability. This project was also initiated as a comparison to similar research that has been conducted in other parts of the country. Through this project, tools and other products are made available to assist Southwestern communities in their efforts to improve community livability. This project addressed community priorities identified in Statewide Forest Action Plans for Arizona, New Mexico and Texas: (1) Recognition of ecosystem services provided by forests; and (2) Implementation of strategies that improve community health and address environmental health factors.

Project Goals

  1. Produce community forest assessments in four targeted municipalities that quantify current ecosystem services being provided (including improved air quality, energy conserved, carbon sequestered, and much more);
  2. Develop and implement municipal goals, planning tools and community forest strategies (planning, development and management) that are recognized by environmental regulators as mitigating factors for air quality;
  3. Develop planning tools and outreach materials and use these tools through traditional and non-traditional partnership forums to increase awareness and develop similar projects and efforts throughout the Southwest and the United States.

This project involved extensive collaboration with municipal, state and federal partners to develop agreed-upon sampling strategies; data analysis and reports; results distribution/dissemination; and in the creation of outreach materials. Community reports and additional information are provided as links below.

Brochure and Fact Sheets

Reports

Ask an Arborist FAQ

The Department of Forestry and Fire Management has many tree experts on staff who are happy to answer any of your questions. However, before you contact us, see if your question is answered below.

 
What is an Arborist?
An arborist is a specialist in the care and maintenance of trees.
How does an Arborist differ from an ISA Certified Arborist?
ISA Certified Arborists are individuals who have achieved a level of knowledge in the art and science of tree care through at least three years of experience and have passed a comprehensive examination. They are also required to recertify every three years with a mandatory 30 hours of continuing education.
 
How deep should I plant my tree? 
The tree trunk flare (The area at the base of the trees trunk that becomes wider to form roots) should be just above grade approximately 1-2”. This will help as the tree will naturally settle.

 

Where should I be watering my tree? 
The absorbing roots of trees can spread 1 ½ - 4 times as wide as the canopy. They are also typically within 1 foot of the soil surface. Watering the entire root zone will serve your tree well; however, most of the water will be absorbed outside of the canopy drip line. 
 
How often should I water my tree? 
This of course varies by plant species and region; however, a good rule of thumb is to water when a soil probe (metal rod or even a screwdriver) won’t penetrate the ground more than 3-4 inches.
Where is the best place to make a pruning cut? 
Pruning cuts should always be made just outside the branch collar (area of overlapping wood fibers that connects a branch to its trunk or parent branch). It can be very harmful to a tree if a pruning cut is made flush with the trunk or parent branch.
How much is my tree worth? 
Trees provide numerous social, environmental, and economic benefits. Try out the National Tree Benefit Calculator to understand your trees value to the community.

Urban and Community Forestry Events