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CITY OF PLEASANTON URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN | 123 <br />STATUS OF THE URBAN FOREST PUBLIC AND PRIVATE TREES <br />Several factors may contribute to this observed increase. <br />Improved data quality over the years plays a role, with <br />2022 data providing a finer resolution of 0.076 meters <br />(0.25 U.S. survey feet) compared to the 1-meter resolution <br />in 2012 and 0.6-meter resolution in 2018. This enhanced <br />resolution, coupled with the use of lidar technology in 2022, <br />likely enabled more precise detection and measurement <br />of tree cover. The findings indicate a notable expansion of <br />Pleasanton’s urban forest, although further analysis could <br />be conducted to identify specific areas of increased growth <br />and better understand the factors driving this expansion. <br />Other factors that have likely contributed to this observed <br />increase include younger trees maturing in the urban forest, <br />improved tree ordinance enforcement practices, and the <br />Green Building code requiring more trees in parking lots <br />and the many large private development projects over the <br />last decade to preserve and plant more trees. The City <br />will need to continue to improve management actions, <br />like achieving its goal to replace all trees that are removed <br />annually and plant an additional 44 trees each year over the <br />next 25 years to fill the 1,100 vacant City-owned tree sites in <br />target neighborhoods to maintain growth of its urban forest. <br />Prioritizing these efforts in neighborhoods with lower canopy <br />levels will help progress towards an equitable distribution of <br />the urban forest.