Inventorying plantations in Vilnius

There is growing awareness that green spaces in big cities not only improve air quality, but also reduce heatwaves in city centres, help combat climate change and provide shade for people. To nurture the capital’s green spaces, Vilnius Plan has created a database of existing trees and shrubs for the city, which allows Vilnius City Council not only to maintain existing trees, but also to plan new plantings. As every year, during the warm season, the city’s existing plantations are inventoried by highly qualified specialists, physically inspecting each plant individually, in accordance with the Ordinance on Plantations approved by the Minister of Environment. Currently, the plantations in the districts of Pašilaičiai, Fabijoniškės and Verkių are being inventoried. Specialists have already provided data on plantations in the Old Town, New Town, Šnipiškės, Žvėrynas and other districts. Residents can see the inventory data on their backyards and surrounding areas on an interactive map, as well as newly planted or planned plantations. The inventory data is collected via mobile apps and stored in a digital database, which allows for monitoring, maintenance and statistics. The visual assessment of plantations is carried out by specialists who evaluate their location in the spatial system, their species, height, diameter, condition and recommended management measures. The condition of the plantation is assessed by summarising a number of indicators: the degree of pruning intensity, the degree of defoliation, the intensity of diseases, the abundance and degree of damage by pests, the intensity of mechanical damage to the trunk of the tree, the degree of leaning. This year, the inventory is being carried out in the districts of Pašilaičiai, Fabijoniškės and Verkių. The inventory takers ask for the residents’ understanding and inform them that, in accordance with the current legislation, specialists who present an identity document and a written confirmation issued by the municipal executive authority about the inventory work to be carried out on the instructions of the municipal executive authority have the right to enter the areas where the plantations are growing to carry out the inventory work on weekdays during daylight hours.