2024 Coastal Tree Canopy Assessment

 In 2022, Tony Giarrusso, a senior research scientist with Georgia Tech, secured a Coastal Incentive Grant through the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Division.  Mr. Giarrusso's proposed studying the tree canopy coverage for the six coastal counties (Chatham, Bryan, Liberty, Camden,  McIntosh, and Glenn).  During the two-year project, Mr. Giarrusso evaluated the tree canopy coverage from 2010 until 2019 for these six counties.   The purpose of the project was two-fold:  establish a baseline for tree canopy data (loss versus increase) and provide online resources to the public.  Mr. Giarrusso has provided similar information for the Metro Atlanta communities, and he wanted to provide similar information and resources to the coastal communities.  As development is occurring, the tree canopy assessment provides residents and decisionmakers in the coastal communities an understanding of the amount of canopy coverage gained and lost during the assessment's time period.  

The time period for the canopy coverage preceded major events for Bryan County:  Hyundai, the 2022 tornado in North Bryan, and hurricanes Debby and Helene.  Mr. Giarrusso did not ignore these events.  His project was well under way prior to these events occurring, and he had to comply with the grant requirements for project scope and grant funding period.  He could not expand the time period studied.  With the baseline data provided, however, Bryan County can update his results in the future by studying canopy coverage from 2020 to 2025 or 2030, and a future study would show how these events impacted tree canopy coverage.  

He presented his findings at a public meeting in Pembroke on December 12, 2024.  Below are links to the presentation and resources to find out more about his research and results.  

Click this link for a complete overview of the tree canopy assessment for the six-county study area.   This link provides information about the purpose of a canopy assessment, methodology used, data results for all six counties, and comparisons between the counties.  For Bryan County only results, click on the link below entitled "Bryan County Overview." 

This link provides an overview of the project and results of the canopy coverage for Bryan County.  It includes information about the canopy coverage change during the time period studied, what the assessment results mean for the future of tree canopy coverage in Bryan County and additional resources.  Interesting fact:  Bryan County  had the highest percent canopy coverage of the six coastal counties. 

As part of the study, Mr. Giarrusso and his team performed site visits and documented canopy loss or gain for these areas.  Click on this link to see the sites visited and images of the canopy coverage.   The site visits occurred in 2023, which allowed Mr. Giarrusso to document some of the changes from 2019 to 2023.  Sites include industrial, residential, and public properties.  

A significant contributor to Bryan County's high percentage of canopy coverage is our protected areas.  Protected Areas are areas not subject to development such as Ft. Stewart, State Wildlife Management Areas, Gregory Park,  Henderson Park, Ft. McAllister, and Hendrix Park.  These areas comprise 50.3% of Bryan County.  Interested in knowing how much carbon or carbon dioxide is stored in these Protected Areas or how much carbon monoxide or PM 10 is removed annually, click on this link. 

Are you interested in certain geographic areas based on Census tracts.  If you are interested in how much carbon or carbon dioxide is stored or carbon monoxide or PM10 is removed annually based on census designated place, click on this link.  You can zoom in and see how canopy coverage is benefiting Richmond Hill or Pembroke. 

Looking for areas that canopy coverage can be increased and are good locations for planting trees.  Click on this link, and the map will show you areas with Very High Potential for planting trees.

For those with access to ArcGIS, Mr. Giarrusso has made the GIS data available to all users.  Click on this link if you are seeking to obtain GIS data. 

If you have questions about the study or have suggestions for increasing/improving canopy coverage in Bryan County, contact Brett Kohler in the Community Development Department.