i-Tree tools were initially released and made freely available by the USDA Forest Service in August 2006. Since then, the tools have been used by thousands of communities,
NGOs
, volunteers, consultants and students to analyse and report on everything from individual trees to parcels, neighbourhoods, cities and states.
i-Tree tools enable users to understand the ecosystem services provided by trees and demonstrate the 'value' of trees for environmental quality and community wellbeing. Tools include Tree Canopy Assessment Tools and
Tree Planting
Tools, among others. The suite of tools is designed to be accessible to a broad audience. Free resources, office hours, teach-ins and additional support are also available to those looking to use the tools.
i-Tree relies on private and public
funding
to run and develop new tools, demonstrating a blend of public and
private sector
collaboration not uncommon in the space of validating ecosystem services. The suite of tools has been developed through a cooperative partnership involving the U.S. Forest Service, Davey Tree Expert Company, Casey Trees, The Arbor Day Foundation, International Society of Arboriculture and Urban and Community Forestry Society.
i-Tree seeks to strengthen
forest management
and advocacy efforts through offering accessible ways to quantify the environmental benefits of trees. Nonetheless, i-Tree raises questions about the ways that trees may be valued and understood as 'resources' going forward.