Participatory tree-mapping tool for urban landscapes

Logging Berlin seems to coincide with developmental needs rather than moths or dead-wood-dangers in this urban environment.

In some cities bottom-up organisations look after their urban landcape by planting and caring for trees. Residents get involved in improving their immediate habitat, enhancing the value of their homes and doing something about climate change. Friends of the Urban Forest in San Francisco have now launched an open-source tree-mapping tool (MapGuide)for all to participate in. Through various electronic fieldguides the neighbourhood can access the database of public trees through “an interface a la Google Maps - color illustrations over aerial photography that's easily recognizable and packed with information. “ The economic or environmental benefits of maintaining green streetscapes can be directly translated though Stratum (for Street Tree Resource Analysis Tool for Urban Forest Managers) . Each tree can get a monetary value attached to it. The software can be linked to Google Earth and Wikipedia.

And here in Berlin? There are enough geeks innovating, often the First Life is not deemed to be a field worth doing things with. Maybe one day when toddlers in Mitte are being taught not the car brands but get to name a tree or a bird in their habitat, - then...