We’re encouraging the nation to take part in a fantastic Citizen Science project with our sister programme GLOBE Ireland to map, measure and share valuable tree data with EPA Ireland and NASA. The data for the project is being gathered over the month of March.

You can help us to learn more about ecosystem resilience, create a national tree map & estimate carbon storage in Ireland.

You can contribute by first downloading NASA’s GLOBE Observer app on to your phone to create a free account, choose TREES and follow the instructions.

How?

Once you have downloaded the GLOBE Observer app and created an account, the Trees tool will guide you through the observation process. Required steps include selecting a tree and using your device to measure the angle from the bottom to the top of the tree, walking to the tree and counting your steps (to determine the distance) and reporting on surface conditions. The app will use that information to calculate an estimate of the tree’s height.

Why?

It’s fun and importantly, trees cool and moisten our air and fill it with oxygen and can help balance our carbon budget. Tree height is the most widely used indicator of an ecosystem’s ability to grow trees. Observing tree height allows NASA scientists to understand the gain or loss of biomass which can inform calculations of the carbon that trees and forests either take in from or release into the atmosphere.

Download a pdf of the full instructions by clicking here