The main objectives of this project were to: a) collect permanent plot field data on vegetation structure on all land uses in a section of the city of Baton Rouge, LA. b) analyze and produce a report on urban forest structure and its effects on air quality and greenhouse gases in Baton Rouge, LA.

This project involved an analysis of a local area of Baton Rouge urban forest structure and its environmental functions. It also involved using an already established permanent plot field data protocol and computer program to assess the structure and function of a section of Baton Rouge urban forest. field data collection from 100 randomly located 1/10 acre plots within all land use types, field data entry, and data analysis using the Urban Forest Effects (UFORE) model were done. Data from this study were used to produce a city report on Baton Rouge urban forest.

The UFORE model utilized the local field data, in conjunction with local hourly weather and pollution concentration data, to assess urban forest structure (e.g., species composition, tree sizes, condition, leaf area and biomass, etc.) by land use type, as well as carbon storage and sequestration by trees, and the impact of the trees on air quality (ozone, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide, pollen production).