Best Practices for Using Citizen Science in Urban Forest Inventorying

Urban trees and forests are an essential component of the urban fabric and provide a range of environmental, social, cultural and economic benefits. Urban tree inventories are conducted for a number of purposes, including providing valuable urban forest data that allows for sustainable management decisions. Involving citizens in scientific enquiries is not a new phenomenon, and there are challenges and benefits to using this model. The goal of this research was to conduct a comparative case study of nine citizen science (CS) urban forest inventory programs to establish a guideline of best practices. This was achieved by analyzing academic and grey literature, and conducting supplementary key informant interviews. The best practices identified can serve as a practical tool for municipalities, NGOs and landscape architects seeking to implement or improve upon existing CS urban forest inventory programs.