Railroad Park Methods

BenefitsEnvironmental Benefits 1. Sequesters approximately 20,000 lbs of atmospheric carbon annually in 531 newly-planted trees, equivalent to driving a single passenger vehicle 21,000 miles.The tree canopies also intercept 92,000 gallons of stormwater runoff annually. CalculationsThe National Tree Benefit Calculator was used to calculate the amount of carbon sequestered by an individual tree in a single year.The species and caliper were chosen in the drop-down menu of the calculator based off of the plant schedule of the planting plan.If a caliper range was given, the lower end of the range was used.For river birch, the only multi-trunk tree specified, it was assumed that 3 leaders were typical.For evergreen trees specified at a particular height instead of caliper, an estimate was made based off of similar observed species.As part of the National Tree Benefit Calculator, the amount of stormwater captured by a plant's physical structure is also estimated.20,822 total lbs of atmospheric carbon sequestered as estimated by the National Tree Benefit Calculator (see Appendix A).Per the United States Environmental Protection Agency Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator, that amount of carbon is comparable to 21,742 miles driven by an average passenger vehicle.The estimate from individual trees was multiplied by the number of a given species, then all were added to produce total stormwater capture (see Appendix A). LimitationsThis number does not take into account any of the shrubs or perennials within the park.Wax myrtle was included in the planting plan as a tree; however, it is often considered a large shrub and was not available in the National Tree Benefit Calculator so it is not reflected in this number.These calculations are estimations based off of the trees at installation and are expected to increase as time passes. Sources National Tree Benefit Calculator -Davey Tree Experts and Casey TreesPlanting schedule provided by Emily Leader of Tom Leader Studios United States Environmental Protection Agency Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator.Accessed May 16, 2017: https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator 2. Increased the number of bird species observed on the site by 250%, from an estimated 10 to 35, including the bobolink, wood duck, peregrine falcon, loggerhead shrike, and northern mockingbird.Information provided by the Birmingham Audubon Society indicates 35 bird species observed within park boundaries since the establishment of Railroad Park.The Society estimates 10 species observed before the park's establishment, which indicates a 250% increase in species present.