Providence’s urban forest, 2021
| Authors: | Jesse Caputo, Samuel Daganhardt, Robert Hoehn, Katie Jennings, Alexander R. Young |
| Year: | 2026 |
| Type: | Resource Bulletin |
| Station: | Northern Research Station |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.2737/NRS-RB-141 |
| Source: | Resour. Bull. NRS-141. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. |
Abstract
A survey of the urban forest was conducted in Providence, Rhode Island from 2015 to 2021. Across the 13.1 thousand acres encompassing the city, there are an estimated 495.2 thousand live trees. More than half of tree stems are small diameter (under 5.0 inches in diameter). The most dominant species based on the number of trees and leaf area are Norway maple, black oak, northern red oak, American elm, and northern white-cedar. Trees on public lands account for 30.0 percent of the total live tree population. Trees on private lands account for 70.0 percent. A majority of trees on private land are found on commercial/industrial land (42.6 percent of total live trees). The trees across the city are subject to a wide range of pests, pathogens, and damage agents—with significant proportions of each species affected by one or more damage agents. Furthermore, 6.3 percent of stems are standing dead trees. Invasive tree and plant species are common in the city, being found on 47.9 percent of the sample plots. Trees in Providence provide many ecosystem services, including air pollution removal, carbon sequestration, reduction in stormwater runoff, and effects on residential building energy use and carbon emissions. The compensatory value of the urban forest is estimated at $405.9 million with the urban forest producing over $6.2 million in annual benefits. This report presents information about the current state of the Providence urban forest and the benefits it provides to residents of the city.