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Analysis shows decades-long tree canopy decline and ~20% rise in Avon urbanized land
Summary
Presenters using Landsat imagery and QGIS reported steady loss of forested cover in Avon from 1995–2025 and "an approximately 20 percent increase in urbanized land from 1995 to the year prior," and offered visuals and an animation for City Council.
The Avon Tree Commission reviewed a data-driven analysis showing a sustained decline in the city’s forested cover and a notable rise in developed land. Collin O’Donnell and Mr. Wible said they used remote-sensing data and satellite imagery processed in QGIS to classify vegetation and impervious surfaces, then produced charts and an animation illustrating changes from 1995 through 2025.
Mr. Wible summarized the findings for the commission, noting that the presentation’s charts "showed a negative trend in forested cover over this 30-year period" and that the work identified "an approximately 20 percent increase in urbanized land from 1995 to the year prior," a change he attributed to expanded roads, parking, and construction. The presenters said they compiled annual data back to 1995 and are finishing analyses for 2013–2016 to create a continuous time series.
Commissioners discussed next steps for sharing the results: Mr. Varga said he intends to present the completed materials to the Mayor and City Council and Mr. Wible offered to provide hard copies and electronic files to members. The presentation included a planned 30‑second animation to visualize land-cover transitions and a ternary diagram plotting forested, agricultural, and urbanized proportions over time.
The update emphasized the commission’s intent to use the analysis as evidence when advocating for additional planting and canopy preservation measures. No formal actions or votes on policy followed from the presentation during this meeting.
