We have compiled this collection of online guides, interactive maps, digital tools, and public databases to support you throughout your forest stewardship journey. Whether you are managing a woodland, caring for trees, exploring environmental conditions, or encouraging others to become environmental stewards, you will find resources to help you along the way.
Explore interactive maps and data tools to identify, quantify, and better understand the landscapes around you. Browse practical guides for management insights, step-by-step instructions, and ideas for engaging communities in environmental stewardship.
Scroll down to explore resources across the following topics:
- Choosing and managing trees and companion plants
- Quantifying and managing tree and forest benefits
- Exploring satellite and land-cover products
- Understanding how environmental conditions impact people
- Identifying species and exploring biodiversity
- Engaging communities in environmental monitoring and advocacy
- Connecting youth with nature
Choosing and Managing Trees and Companion Plants
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
Determine which species are most likely to thrive based on extreme minimum winter temperatures in your zip code.
USDA Plant Database
Standardized federal information on vascular plants, mosses, and lichens, including distribution maps and growth characteristics.
U.S. Forest Service's Silvics of North America Database
United States Forest Service resource describing characteristics of about 200 forest tree species and varieties.
Connecticut's Notable Trees Database
A database of Connecticut's largest and most historic trees, both native and introduced.
UConn Plant Database
Dedicated to the ornamental attributes, use, and identification of woody landscape plants.
Arbor Day Foundation's Tree Guide
A comprehensive database understanding the specific growth requirements of many tree species.
UConn Extension Forestry's Tree Planting Guide
A guide on how to plant (and care for) a tree. This quick guide also includes a list of resources on native plants and their availability, tall trees that offer multiple other benefits, plant and soil health considerations and services, tree owner care and maintenance manuals, and much more.
UConn Extension Forestry's Tree Risk Guide
A UConn Extension Forestry guide on how to manage tree risk. This quick guide will help you understand how tree risk is evaluated and how to prepare for and manage potential hazards.
UConn Extension Forestry's Invasive Species Management Guide
A UConn Extension Forestry guide on how to manage common invasive species. This quick guide will provide you with the steps to follow for diagnostics and reporting.
Bumble Bee Flower Finder
This database helps you discover bumble bee-friendly plants for Eastern U.S.
Audubon's Native Plant Database
A database for bird-friendly native plants.
Quantifying and Managing Tree and Forest Benefits
i-Tree Tools Suite for Quantifying Tree Benefits
Developed by the USDA Forest Service, this suite of software helps users measure the environmental and economic benefits of trees, including carbon sequestration and air quality improvements.
Arbor Day's Tree Benefit Calculator
This tool allows homeowners to estimate the annual economic and environmental value of individual trees on their property by simply entering their zip code, tree species, and diameter.
U.S. Geological Survey's Social Values for Ecosystem Services (SolVES) Tool
This specialized tool allows users to map the "social values" of an ecosystem, such as its aesthetic beauty, recreational potential, and cultural significance to the local community.
Natural Capital's InVEST Mapping Software
Developed by Stanford University and the Natural Capital Alliance, this suite of software helps users measure the environmental, social and economic benefits of natural landscapes.
UConn Extension Forestry's Starter Guide to a Forest Management Plan
A proper plan can help you increase the benefits your woodland provides. Access this UConn Extension Forestry guide to consider your options.
UConn Extension Forestry's Municipal Forestry Toolbox
This hub of resources was designed to support municipal officials, sustainability staff, tree wardens, planners, and forestry professionals in advancing community forestry efforts. From tree inventories and canopy assessments to bilingual posters, videos, hands-on activities and marketing ideas for community engagement, this resource equips you with the tools to manage, protect, and expand your community forests.
Exploring Satellite and Land-Cover Products
U.S. Geological Survey's EarthExplorer Portal
The primary portal for accessing the world’s largest archive of civilian remote sensing data. Users can search and download satellite imagery and aerial photography.
Data Basin's Global Greenness Map
This global map tells you the level of greenness based on the normalized difference vegetation index. Values range from -0.1 to 1.0, and higher values show land areas with plenty of leafy vegetation. Lower values are areas with little to no vegetation.
European Space Agency's WorldCover Map
WorldCover provides global land cover products for 2020 and 2021 at 10m resolution, meaning each pixel covers a 10-meter square on the ground.
American Forests' Tree Equity Score Map
This interactive mapping tool combines tree canopy data with socioeconomic indicators to identify neighborhoods needing urban forestry investment.
NOAA's High Resolution Land Cover Map for Connecticut
Connecticut now has 1 meter resolution land cover courtesy of NOAA, where each pixel covers a 1-meter square on the ground.
UConn's CT-ECO Portal
The Connecticut Environmental Conditions Online (CT-ECO) is a partnership between CT DEEP and UConn CLEAR, and the hub for geographic information in the state.
Understanding How Environmental Conditions Impact People
CDC's Place and Health Analysis Interactive Map
A national, place-based tool by the CDC designed to measure the cumulative impacts of environmental burdens.
CDC's PLACES Interactive Map
A national dataset and tool by the CDC covering common health variables. This can be helpful in examining the relationship between tree cover and public health.
CDC's SVI Interactive Map
The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) is a national dataset and tool designed to indicate socioeconomic and demographic factors that, when compounded, can affect communities in their abilities to bounce back from stressors.
EnviroAtlas
Interactive maps and tools helping users visualize relationships between nature, health, and the economy with over 500 data layers.
CIRCA Screening Tool
A tool by UConn CIRCA identifying Connecticut communities most impacted by environmental challenges through environmental and socioeconomic data.
CIRCA Climate Vulnerability Index
A tool by UConn CIRCA identifying Connecticut communities most impacted by our changing climate Trees are the ultimate nature-based solution to climate challenges. Understanding vulnerability to flooding and heat can come in handy in identifying areas in need of tree planting.
EPA's AirNow Interactive Map
This U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-funded map provides data on air quality. Trees, especially those with complex leaf structures or evergreen needles, act as physical buffers. Knowing local air quality can come in handy in identifying areas in need of tree planting.
DOT's National Transportation Noise Map
This U.S. Dept. of Transportation web map shows national noise pollution data. Trees act as physical buffers against noise. Knowing local noise pollution levels can come in handy in identifying areas in need of tree planting.
Global Flood Mapper
This novel Google Earth Engine application for rapid flood mapping uses Sentinel-1 SAR to generate flood maps quickly, and evaluate impact to local land covers and communities.
Copernicus' Global Flood Awareness System (GloFas)
The aim of GloFaS is to support preparatory measures as well as emergency response to predicted and ongoing major flood events at global scale. Besides flood mapping, GloFas includes some other useful map layers like soil moisture index.
FEMA Flood Maps
You can use this resource to find the official flood map for your area (U.S. only), access a range of flood hazard products, and access tools that help you better understand flood risk.
IPUMS Portal
Home of the many IPUMS databases, where you can find historical, survey and many socio-demographic datasets from across the globe and the U.S.
Identifying Species and Exploring Biodiversity
Global Biodiversity Information Facility Portal
An international network and data infrastructure for data about all types of life on Earth.
iNaturalist Portal
An online platform with a complementary mobile app that helps people identify, record, and share observations of plants, animals, fungi, and other organisms.
Seek App
A mobile app that helps people identify plants, animals, fungi, and other organisms instantly using their phone camera.
U.S. Geological Survey's TAME Tool
The Tagged Animal Movement Explorer (TAME) is an interactive data visualization tool for exploring spatial and temporal patterns of animal movements.
U.S. Geological Survey's Amphibians and Reptiles Species Distribution Explorer
This explorer tool provides information about herptile distributions and species richness for anyone interested.
ITIS Portal
At the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), you can view the taxonomic information of plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of the world.
U.S. Geological Survey's Gap Analysis Project
A program of the U.S. Geological Survey that provides data and tools on species distributions, land cover, and protected areas to support conservation planning and biodiversity assessment.
Global Ecosystems Atlas
The Global Ecosystems Atlas is a comprehensive, standardised map of ecosystems throughout the world.
Engaging Communities in Environmental Monitoring and Advocacy
UConn Extension Forestry's Urban and Community Forestry Toolkit
This online handbook is an educational resource designed to help learners explore urban forests, investigate environmental conditions, and understand the role of trees in creating healthier communities. Through practical activities, illustrated explanations, animated videos, and accessible learning materials, the handbook supports hands-on learning about urban forestry, tree benefits, and environmental stewardship. (Also available in Spanish.)
UConn Extension Forestry's Urban Forestry Field App
This digital resource helps users explore and document urban forest conditions in the field. Developed in partnership with UConn CLEAR, the app supports field-based learning and data collection with the Urban and Community Forestry Toolkit, helping users investigate trees, their surroundings, and the urban landscapes they call home.
UConn Extension Forestry's Toolkit for Digital Environmentalists
This beta version of our upcoming online handbook introduces learners to digital tools and technologies for exploring, documenting, and understanding the environment. Through practical activities and accessible resources, the handbook helps learners use mapping platforms, environmental datasets, digital applications, and other technology to investigate landscapes, monitor environmental conditions, and support community-based environmental research.
UConn Extension Forestry's Year-Round Bilingual Forestry Social Media Toolkit
This toolkit is a comprehensive, plug-and-play digital outreach resource designed to strengthen community engagement around urban forestry, nature conservation, and public health. (All suggested posts are listed in both English and Spanish.)
UConn Extension Forestry's 7-Day Challenge
This 7-day challenge with indoor and outdoor alternatives to all activities encourages participants to learn about the multitude of benefits nature provides. (Also available in Spanish.)
UConn Extension Forestry's Urban Tree Benefits Bilingual Posters
A collection of visually engaging posters illustrating the ecological and social benefits of trees. Designed for easy printing and sharing, these ready-to-use bilingual (English and Spanish) educational materials can be used by anyone for public outreach, community education, and environmental awareness.
Connecting Youth with Nature
UConn Extension Forestry's Youth Program Activity Plans
From drones in forestry to cultural connections with nature, Branch Out! is a catch-all hub for activity plans and lesson ideas developed by UConn Extension Forestry's educators to engage youth in forestry.
UConn Extension Forestry's Animated Educational Playlist
Explore this collection of animated videos developed by UConn Extension Forestry to illustrate the many ecological and social benefits of urban trees. These short, engaging videos break down key concepts into easy-to-understand explanations, making them ideal educational resources for K-12 teachers and environmental educators working with youth.
UConn 4-H Activity Booklet
This booklet developed by UConn 4-H educators contain many ideas for engaging youth in activities that promote environmental literacy.