Frequently Asked Questions

You can also visit our How To Map Trees page for step-by-step instructions on how to map trees.

Why is this new version of the Tampa Tree Map different from the previous one?

Since the original Tampa Tree Map was released in 2013, the technology has evolved!

The new look reflects many improvements in the underlying technology, making the Map tablet-ready, easier to use, faster and more flexible. We’ve also linked the Tampa Tree Map to the larger OpenTreeMap community, so we’ll see new features regularly and better bug fixes. These new features include new Apps for both iPhone/iPad and the Android devices. Visit the Apple App Store or Google Play and search for OpenTreeMap.

I added trees to the old Map. What happened to them?

Don't worry! We greatly appreciate the work you've done, and we've preserved all the data entered by users like you. All of the information you have entered is part of the new version, except in those areas were professional urban foresters have updated the trees. We hope you’ll keep contributing! We’ve switched to a new platform, so you’ll need to create a new account.

How do I use TampaTreeMap?

There are several ways that you can explore and use TampaTreeMap.

1. Find Trees: Use TampaTreeMap to search for trees near a specific address or in a general neighborhood using the Search by Location search box located at the top of the page. Type an address, city, and state or select a location by clicking the List button. Click the "Go" button located in the search box to find trees near that location. You can also search by a tree's species using the Search by Species search box. You can also use the “Advanced” option to find trees meeting specific criteria. Discover which trees are near your home!
2. Add Trees: Do you know of a tree that isn't listed in TampaTreeMap? Add trees near your home or in your neighborhood and help us create a more complete inventory of trees in our region. To add a tree, we recommend first searching TampaTreeMap to verify that the tree isn't already in the site. If it's not listed, go ahead and add your tree! To add a tree, you will need to create a free OpenTreeMap account and then log in to the system. Once you've logged in, visit the Add a Tree page to enter information about your tree. Fill out the requested information in the three simple steps and then click "Done."
3. Edit Trees: Many trees in TampaTreeMap may need to be updated with new information. Search TampaTreeMap for trees near your home or in your neighborhood. Each green dot indicates the location of a tree. Click the dot to read more information. Do you have something to add about this tree? Click the "Edit Details" link inside the tree's information box to add or edit information about the tree including its species, location, plot type, and other details. You will need to create a free account and log in to edit trees. Some trees cannot be edited unless you have been pre-approved with the qualifications necessary to edit trees. This feature protects the tree inventory data that is managed by professional urban foresters.

Thank you for your assistance in making TampaTreeMap a great resource for information on trees in the City of Tampa and the greater Tampa bay region!

How do I find out the species of my tree?

Visit the Tree ID link at the bottom of the page, or check out other tree identification resources on the Resources page. Tree identification is a skill that takes time to master, and usually a lot of training. Therefore, rather than guess the tree species, you can still add your tree to TampaTreeMap by choosing “unknown” as the species. You can still provide valuable information about the size of your tree. You can then upload images of your tree and its bark, leaves, flowers, or fruit and perhaps other TampaTreeMap users will be able to determine the tree species based on these images.

How do I measure the diameter of my tree’s trunk?

Entering the diameter of a tree is crucial for helping track that tree’s growth and environmental benefits. Measure the diameter or circumference of your tree to the nearest inch. Circumference is easier to measure and will be automatically converted to diameter). Circumference can be easily measured by wrapping a cloth tape or string around the tree at breast height (approx. 4.5 ft) perpendicular to the lean of the tree. If there are branches or other projections place the tape above them. If a fork appears well below 4.5 ft., you will need to measure each trunk. When using the website, you can add additional trunk measurements on the edit info page for your tree.

The following video from the people at UrbanForestMap.org provides a quick tutorial on an easy way to measure your tree’s diameter.

How do I measure my tree’s height?

Foresters use specialized tools when measuring tree height, such as a clinometer, a Biltmore stick, or a laser hypsometer or rangefinder. These devises use trigonometry to determine the tree height based on distances and angles.

There are a couple of other less accurate, but simple methods you could use to estimate the height of a tree. Here is a simple way to estimate the height of a tree. You will need two people for this activity. You also will need a yardstick, notepad and pencil. Be careful! This procedure involves walking and looking at your tree. Always look where you are walking and be careful near roads.

1. One team member should stand next to the tree that you want to measure.
2. The second team member holds a yardstick and carefully walks away from the tree until the tree appears smaller than the yardstick.
3. Use the yardstick to measure the apparent height of the tree and record your answer.
4. Use the yardstick to measure the apparent height of the student and record your answer.
5. Measure the actual height of the first team member.
6. Calculate the actual height of the tree using this equation: actual height of tree (X) = (measured tree height on yardstick / measured height of student on yardstick) * actual height of student. All units are inches. Convert height of tree to feet by dividing actual height in inches by 12.

Example: Jennifer and Mike are measuring the height of a large live oak tree on their school grounds. Jennifer measures the apparent height of the tree to be 34 inches, and the apparent height of Mike to be 7 inches. Mike’s actual height is 5 feet (60 inches). To determine the actual height of the tree, Jennifer and Mike solve for X = (34 inches / 7 inches) * 60 inches = 291 inches / 12 inches = 24 feet

Should I enter information about Tree condition?

Tree condition requires a trained eye to evaluate. However, there are two categories anyone can identify. If a tree has been removed, or is otherwise missing, select REMOVED. If the tree contains no living parts, no leaves, and is completely dead, select DEAD. Note: a tree with any minor living components, however small, should not be marked DEAD. Noting these two conditions will help us track the loss of trees. If you are interested in specifying other conditions, consider going through one of our training programs.

What is meant by Canopy condition?

The canopy condition is an estimate of the fullness of the tree's canopy. This information is optional and generally used only by experience foresters. If you wish to include the canopy condition, use the guidelines below to evaluate the condition of the canopy of your tree. Select one of the options from the dropdown list that bests describes the amount of gaps in the tree canopy. Visualize the expected/idealized outline of the tree canopy, taking into account the natural canopy shape for the particular species. Now estimate the percent of foliage that is absent due to pruning, dieback, or defoliation. This information allows TampaTreeMap to calculate the ecological benefits of the tree canopy.

• Full: no gaps
• Small gaps: up to 25% missing
• Moderate gaps: up to 50% missing
• Large gaps: up to 75% missing
• Little or no canopy: up to 100% missing

What is planting site information and what does plot type mean?

The Planting Site is the location of location where the tree is planted. The planting site might be a rectangular cutout in a downtown sidewalk, or it might be an open area of a backyard. There are a number of different types of planting sites that you can define by choosing the appropriate plot type on the tree details page. Please select the one that most accurately reflects your tree's location. If you are unsure, leave these measurements blank.

• Well/Pit - Trees located in a rectangular cut in the sidewalk, specifically designated for trees
• Median - Trees located in a portion of land between streets or a divided roadway
• Tree Lawn - Trees located in a strip of grass located between a street and the sidewalk
• Island Planter - Trees located in a small confined portion of land such as within a parking lot
• Open - Trees located in maintained parks, recreational areas or in the yard or open space around a home or building
• Natural Area - Trees located in a non-developed location that is not maintained as a lawn or recreational area
• Other - Trees that do not fit in another category (a tree in a rooftop garden, a tree in an interior atrium, etc)

What is the plot / planting site length and width?

Enter a measurement of the length and width of the planting site in feet. If you are unsure or do not have means to measure the plot, leave these measurements blank.

How do I answer a question about power lines?

Answer yes, no, or unknown to whether there are power lines overhead within a distance of 10 ft. from the base/trunk of the tree. Exported data uses the values 1=yes, 2=no, 3=unknown, and 0 or NULL (depending on how you exported data) was left blank.

How do I answer a question about sidewalks?

Look to see if tree roots are lifting nearby sidewalks. Check either “minor or no damage” or “raised more than ¾ inch” to indicate the condition of a sidewalk within 10 ft. of your tree

What is the Planting Site Stewardship?

The planting site stewardship is where experienced users can enter information about actions taken to modify the planting site where the tree is growing. For example, City staff might enter the date when they enlarged a rectangular planting well/pit in a sidewalk.

What is the Tree Stewardship?

Tree stewardship includes actions to care for a specific tree. The tree stewardship information in Tampa Tree Map is a location where you can keep track of activities such as when you pruned a tree, or mulched around the tree, or even when you watered a tree. This information is entirely optional, but can be a useful way to keep track of all the things we do to care for trees.

How can I support urban forestry in the City of Tampa?

There are a number of great ways to get involved in caring for trees and supporting conservation events throughout Tampa. Look for links to those organizations coming soon.

1. Add trees to TampaTreeMap! One of the best ways to ensure that trees are properly cared for and maintained is to have an accurate and current inventory of the urban tree population. Do you know of a tree that isn’t in TampaTreeMap? Add that tree now or update existing tree information!
2. Learn about the City of Tampa's Urban Forest Management program that is a national model for responsible management and coordination to increase the benefits provided by trees in the City. The program is managed by the Natural Resources Section of the City of Tampa Planning and Urban Design Division: www.tampagov.net/planning-division/programs/natural-resources-section.
3. Request trees for your community or your own home through the Tree-Mendous Tampa Program: www.tampagov.net/parks-and-recreation/programs/programs/treemendous-tampa.
4. Discover more about how urban trees can increase energy efficiency, protect our waterways, and generally make for a more green and enjoyable living space. Check out our Resources page for more information.
5. Volunteer with the City of Tampa Parks & Recreation Department or another community horticulture group.
6. Spread the Word! Tell others about TampaTreeMap and the importance of urban trees. The more tree advocates we have, the greener we can make our communities!

Can I add tree information for trees outside of Tampa?

Currently the TampaTreeMap is only intended to document trees within the City of Tampa. This is because it cost money to maintain the tree map website and we would need additional funding to expand the tree map. If you are interesting in establishing a tree map in your community, please contact us by using the TampaTreeMap contact form.

My town or community has a lot of tree data. Is there a way to upload many trees at once?

If you are from a town or other community and have a tree inventory you would like to add to TampaTreeMap, please contact us by using theTampaTreeMap contact form.

How can I be sure that the information in TampaTreeMap is accurate?

TampaTreeMap is designed to collect tree data by crowdsourcing. In other words, it allows YOU and other members of your community to create an inventory of trees and learn about the benefits that trees provide. The data is only as good as you make it. You can help us ensure that the data is as current and accurate as possible by updating and correcting information on the trees in your neighborhood.

Some of the data comes from horticultural organizations who have carefully surveyed street trees throughout the city. Other data comes from City staff who use the TampaTreeMap as a tool to manage trees. We have implemented a number of checks that will hopefully prevent the entering of incorrect data. If you find incorrect information, please correct it!

How do I report an issue with a tree or a hazardous or dead tree?

TampaTreeMap is a collaborative mapping tool and inventory of trees in the City of Tampa. It is not a tool for reporting issues with trees or potentially hazardous or dead trees. If you are concerned about a public tree, please contact your local government. In the City of Tampa: Tree Emergencies: (813) 274-5744 (blocking streets and sidewalks) If you are located outside the City of Tampa bay, please contact your local government to determine the best way to report tree issues.

Why does it say there is no eco impact data available for my neighborhood?

To calculate the eco impact of a tree, the iTree software we use must know the species and diameter of the tree. For many of the trees, we might know the location of the tree but not the exact species and diameter. For this reason, many neighborhoods in Tampa bay may show lots of trees but not list any eco impact data. You can help us more accurately calculate eco data by entering the species and diameter for trees in your neighborhood.

What is the source of the eco impact data?

We calculated the economic benefits and environmental impacts of the trees using the i-Tree software provided by the USDA Forest Service. This software provides options for calculating benefits by assigning a dollar value to the impact of trees in a number of ecological areas. These areas include electricity, natural gas, carbon dioxide, particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, volatile organic compounds, and stormwater interception. The USDA Forest Service provides default dollar values for each of the categories in iTree. We used these default values for carbon dioxide, particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, volatile organic compounds, and stormwater interception as no values specific to the Tampa Bay region were available. For the electricity fields, we used a prices based on local Tampa Bay electricity rates for residential customers. To calculate the benefits to a homeowner, we also entered a median home sale price for Tampa Bay. Based on these numbers, i-Tree calculated the approximate financial benefits of a tree based on its species and size.