Goshen, Indiana Improves Ecosystem Resilience with Tree Canopy Inventory and Assessment
As temperatures and pests change, urban ecosystems will need to adjust and will become ever more important for public health and quality of life. In 2012, the City of Goshen completed an urban tree canopy inventory and assessment in order to understand what trees are in the community and how they will be impacted by environmental changes.
Approach
This project implemented a comprehensive urban greening restoration approach, combining scientific research with community engagement and traditional ecological knowledge.
Implementation Steps
- Baseline assessment and site selection
- Stakeholder consultation and community engagement
- Design and planning phase with technical experts
- Implementation with local workforce training
- Monitoring and adaptive management
Timeline
The project was implemented over a 2-year period, with ongoing monitoring and maintenance continuing beyond the initial implementation phase.
Environmental Benefits
- Significant increase in native species populations
- Improved water quality and regulation
- Enhanced carbon sequestration capacity
- Reduced soil erosion and improved soil health
Social & Economic Benefits
- Created local employment opportunities
- Improved community resilience to climate impacts
- Enhanced ecosystem services valued at $4M annually
- Strengthened traditional knowledge and practices
✓ What Worked Well
- Early and continuous community engagement ensured local buy-in
- Adaptive management approach allowed for course corrections
- Integration of traditional and scientific knowledge enhanced outcomes
- Multi-stakeholder partnerships provided diverse expertise and resources
⚠ Challenges Encountered
- Initial funding delays affected project timeline
- Extreme weather events required adaptive strategies
- Coordination across multiple agencies was time-intensive
- Some species recovery took longer than initially projected
→ Recommendations for Replication
- Invest adequate time in baseline assessments and planning
- Build strong local partnerships from the project outset
- Ensure long-term funding commitments for monitoring
- Document and share learnings throughout implementation
- Plan for climate adaptation from the beginning
Help spread knowledge about nature-based solutions
Copyright Notice
© 2026 Original Authors. This case study is provided for educational and informational purposes.
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Citation
When citing this case study, please reference: Original Authors (2026).Goshen, Indiana Improves Ecosystem Resilience with Tree Canopy Inventory and Assessment. Source: https://nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/nature-based-solutions-roadmap/case-study-search
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