Madison’s urban forest, 2021
| Authors: | Buckler Dan, Sjana Schanning, Christina Herrick, Robert Hoehn, Katie Jennings, Alexander R. Young |
| Year: | 2026 |
| Type: | Resource Bulletin |
| Station: | Northern Research Station |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.2737/NRS-RB-145 |
| Source: | Resour. Bull. NRS-145. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. |
Abstract
Data collected from almost 200 plots in Madison, Wisconsin from 2015 through 2021, reveal that the city has an estimated 2.9 million live trees at least 1.0-inch in diameter across all ownerships. The most common tree species by number are common buckthorn, boxelder, and white ash, while those at least 5.0 inches or greater are boxelder, honeylocust, and northern white cedar. The largest number of trees (49.7 percent; 1.4 million trees) are found on forest land. Trees on public lands total 1.7 million and account for almost 58 percent of all live trees. Trees at least 15.0 inches in diameter are only 10 percent of the population, but represent 53 percent of all trees’ leaf area, which in turn produce many of the benefits of the urban forest. It is estimated that the urban forest in Madison produces over $11.5 million in annual benefits (Table 1), while the overall compensatory value of the urban forest is estimated at $1.3 billion. Buckthorn is the most common invasive species, covering 2.8 percent of the city’s area. The information presented in this report may be used to support urban forest management programs and to inform policy and planning to improve environmental quality and human health in Madison. The analysis also provides a basis for monitoring changes in the urban forest over time.