TREE MEASUREMENT GUIDE - Manitoba Forestry Association

INDIVIDUAL TREE DETAILThis section has been designed to try and collect as much information on your individual tree as possible. Fill inthe information the best you can. Once received, all nominations are site verified and any information gaps will becollected at this time.Details of how to collect this information can be found below.Common Name of Tree:Latin Name of Tree:Tree Circumference: Inches or CentimetresTree Diameter: Inches or CentimetresTree Height: Inches or CentimetresCrown Spread: Feet or MetersAge: Estimated or ActualPlanted By:COMMON AND LATIN NAMES OF THE NATIVE TREES OF MANITOBAPlease refer to the Native Trees of Manitoba guide available at:http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/forestry/pdf/health/fieldguidefinal.pdfHOW YOU CAN MEASURE THE CIRCUMFERENCE AND DIAMETER OF A TREEThese tree measurements are used to determine the overall size of the tree. The diameter of a tree is notnecessarily a good predictor of how old the tree is. For example, a white spruce growing in Southern Manitoba willhave a much larger diameter than a white spruce of the same age growing in Churchill. This is because thediameter is influenced by factors such as length of growing seasons, water availability, sunlight, etc.Tree diameter is always taken from a consistent height of 1.3 metres from the ground. This is known as theDiameter at Breast Height, or DBH. This height was chosen in order to standardize this measurement.A precise but low tech way to measure the diameter of a tree is to use a flexible measuring tape to first measurethe circumference of the trunk and then calculate the diameter. Circumference is the distance around the trunk.PAGE 2 – MANITOBA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION – TREE MEASURMENT GUIDE