Minneapolis’ urban forest, 2021

Sjana Schanning; Ram Deo; Christina Herrick; Robert Hoehn; Katie Jennings; Sydney Schaaf; Alexander R. Young

doi:10.2737/NRS-RB-144

Treesearch

Minneapolis’ urban forest, 2021

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Sjana Schanning, Ram Deo, Christina Herrick, Robert Hoehn, Katie Jennings, Sydney Schaaf, Alexander R. Young

Year:

2026

Type:

Resource Bulletin

Station:

Northern Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2737/NRS-RB-144

Source:

Resour. Bull. NRS-144. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station

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Download (PDF 9.33 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/80678.pdf

Abstract

A 2021 analysis of the urban forest in Minneapolis, Minnesota reveals that this area has an estimated 1.8 million live trees across all ownerships. The most common large diameter (11.0+ inches) tree species are hackberry, American elm, silver maple, bur oak, and honeylocust. Trees in Minneapolis are estimated to be currently storing about 228,000 tons of carbon (837,000 tons of carbon dioxide [CO₂]) valued at $38.9 million. In addition, it is estimated that these trees annually remove about 26,000 tons of CO₂ and about 774 tons of air pollution. Minneapolis’ urban forest is estimated to reduce annual energy costs of residential buildings by $1.7 million. The overall compensatory value of the urban forest is estimated at $737.8 million. The information presented in this report can be used to support urban forest management programs and to inform policy and planning to improve environmental quality and human health in Minneapolis.

Keywords

Urban FIA, UFIA, i-Tree, Minnesota, MN, My City’s Trees, carbon, city, cities, tree volume and biomass, carbon sequestration, Urban Forest Inventory and Analysis, urban forest structure and health, urban forest trends, urban forest values, ecosystem services

Citation

Schanning, Sjana; Deo, Ram; Herrick, Christina; Hoehn, Robert E., III; Jennings, Katie; Schaaf, Sydney; Young, Alexander R. 2026. Minneapolis’ urban forest, 2021. Resour. Bull. NRS-144. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 88 p. https://doi.org/10.2737/NRS-RB-144.