Urban Greening

Canopy Assessment: Hyperspectral Imaging 

To begin, the Green Heart team conducted a canopy assessment through hyperspectral imaging. This assessment showed the research team the variety of tree species in the study area and how healthy or stressed those trees were. Watch this video to see the assessment, tree species are on the left and tree health is shown on the right. Watch the video or view a still image.

Tree Health Assessment: YouthBuild + TNC Summer 2019 

In 2019, the Nature Conservancy and YouthBuild Louisville’s SummerWorks program partnered to conduct a tree health assessment, read about the partnership or view the photo gallery. Data was collected and submitted to the Healthy Trees, Healthy Cities citizen science app, which will assist the Green Heart Project in caring for existing neighborhood trees. Learn more about the Healthy Trees Healthy Cities app.

Emerald Ash Borer Treatment 

In addition to planting new trees, Green Heart has been working to maintain the health of existing trees. In partnership with Louisville Grows, the Nature Conservancy managed the mapping of ash trees located on private and public properties in Green Heart communities. In partnership with Limbwalker, the ash trees are being treated for the emerald ash borer. In total, this partnership has protected more than 100 ash trees.

Scientific Selection

The tree-planting stage of the Green Heart Louisville project is complete, with thousands of new trees in the ground. How did Green Heart Louisville and its partners determine which trees to plant? The answer is rooted in science. Read more from The Nature Conservancy’s Kentucky Field Notes Spring/Summer 2020, Planting Healthy Air, and Funding Trees for Health.

Residential Planting 

Louisville Grows partnered with Green Heart Louisville to plant trees on residental property and in Louisville Metro rights-of-way. Louisville Grows knocked on thousands of doors starting in the fall 2019 to see if residents of the Green Heart neighborhoods would like to become “treecipients.” If you’re interested in adding a tree to your yard, check out this list of recommended trees for Louisville and other tree resources.

Highway Planting 

The Nature Conservancy and the Kentucky Department of Transportation partnered to create environmentally sound plantings along the Henry Watterson Expressway. The goal of this effort is to reduce particulate matter and volatile organic compound air pollution. Plantings are located on a one-mile stretch of the Henry Watterson Expressway between Exits 10 and 11.