How can we safely monitor and respond to the threats facing Hamilton woodlots?
This work continued as a Mohawk Project Winter 2024: https://www.citylabhamilton.com/winter-2024-projects/2024/1/16/woodlots-health-assessment-tool
Project description:
As diseases and invasive species enter the City of Hamilton, we are unable to accurately protect publicly owned forested woodlots because we lack 1) knowledge of the locations and current state of publicly owned woodlots, and 2) tools to assess and monitor the long-term health of these woodlots. In addition, without the knowledge of the current state of these woodlots, we cannot prioritize improving their health through different Forestry management initiatives (e.g., planting, invasive species removal).
As the Project Manager of Forest Health, her two main priorities are increasing canopy cover and managing forest health to maintain the current canopy. This project connects both aspects of the position.
Project Deliverables:
Developed health assessment criteria including direction on next steps for woodlot improvement.
Analyzed literature for key health information for publicly owned woodlots.
Applied similar techniques for health assessment from other organizations.
Created recommendations for the design and implementation of a long-term management tool to maintain and monitor woodlot health.
Students: Feben Alemayehu, Marie Behnke, Steffanie Blair, Jacob DeBoer, and Spencer King
City Staff: Kristen Bill, Project Manager of Forest Health, Forestry and Horticulture
Faculty: Harold DeVreis
Course name: Core Capstone Experience, CTS410
