1. (1) The State Forestry Department shall acquire and maintain a statewide urban tree canopy assessment tool.

2. (2) The assessment tool must provide geospatial mapping that includes:

   1. (a) A visualization of urban tree canopies, viewable at the census tract level;
   2. (b) Community demographic, economic, social and health data;
   3. (c) A comprehensive inventory of tree canopies on public lands;
   4. (d) Rights of way and their associated jurisdictions;
   5. (e) An urban green space assessment that includes an evaluation of vegetation health and a comparison of pervious surfaces to impervious surfaces within the green space; and
   6. (f) An assessment of tree canopy and green space in the urban-rural gradient.
3. (3) The department may integrate the urban tree canopy assessment tool with data from other agency mapping tools, including the environmental justice mapping tool developed pursuant to ORS 182.555.
4. (4) The department shall make the urban tree canopy assessment tool available on a website maintained by the department, along with guidance for using the tool to promote environmental, social and economic well-being.

5. (5) Using the urban tree canopy assessment tool, the department shall designate as green infrastructure improvement zones areas of this state that have a high level of poverty density and any of the following:

   1. (a) Low levels of tree canopy cover;
   2. (b) Poor vegetation health;
   3. (c) High risk of pests, disease or other threats to plant life; or
   4. (d) Other needs for revegetation or holistic native plant restoration.

Note: 526.520 was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to or made a part of ORS chapter 526 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.

[2023 c.442 §28]