The University of Illinois is taking the lead on a three-year research project exploring urban forestry’s effects on health care spending.  The project will be the first to focus specifically on urban forestry’s economic return on investment.  Health expenditures of over 4 million people will be analyzed with LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) canopy coverage.  The project will also result in a free, online tool that can be used to estimate a community’s return on investment for their urban forest.

For more information contact Ellen Clark (EllenA.Clark@Wisconsin.gov), Urban Forestry Communication Specialist, at 608-267-2774.