South Bend has been a certified Tree City USA through the Arbor Day Foundation for over 20 years.
It is home to approximately 202,000 people and is situated within the Northcentral region of the state near the Michigan border.
South Bend is also home to both Notre Dame University and Indiana University South Bend (IUSB).
South Bend was included in the 2011 statewide UTC study and it was found to have an average tree canopy of 25.9%, significantly higher than the 20.61% average UTC of the surrounding Northcentral region.
IUSB is the second largest of the Indiana University campuses. On campus, UTC is being studied through efforts coordinated by the IUSB Center for a Sustainable Future. A tree distribution survey of the 53.5 acre main campus was conducted in 2016 through a student research project which counted and identified 1439 trees on the campus. Using i-Tree ecosystem software, the study estimated the value of the services provided by those trees at nearly $3.5 million. In decribing the research project, Krista Bailey, the Center's Director said of the students,
“They literally hugged every tree on campus”
The current UTC for the IUSB campus is approximately 35.5%. This estimate is being updated while the campus is working with the City Forester to develop a campus tree care plan and simultaneously developing its application to become an official Arbor Day Foundation Tree Campus USA program.
Urban Tree Canopy estimates:
IUSB - 35.5%
South Bend, IN - 25.9%
Northcentral Indiana - 20.6%
Sources:
Davey Resource Group. (n.d.). Assessing and Addressing Indiana Urban Tree Canopy South Bend. Retrieved from https://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/files/fo-SoBendUTCFactSh.pdf
South Bend Urban Tree Canopy Cover 2010
Tree City USA. (n.d.). Indiana Tree City USA Summary. Retrieved from https://www.arborday.org/states/documents/Indiana.pdf
Indiana Fact Sheet 2017