‘Forestry Fitbit’: Tree Huggers Get New Digital Tool to Help Protect Trees from Climate Change
An organization called ePlant is giving people a digital advantage for tree care. The company’s TreeTags allow data to be collected to understand when the environment may be stressing out plants.
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A recent Bloomberg article allowed the writer to test out the product, and they say it’s about the size of a TV remote but has sensors, a solar panel, and a wireless radio that sends data to your phone.
The article says, “Like a forestry Fitbit, TreeTags can give homeowners, farmers and forestry managers early warning when trees become water stressed or are in danger of toppling. That data can allow growers, for instance, to better target scarce water supplies for irrigation.”
Developers at ePlant say the device will support agriculture, arboriculture, forest, government, risk management, and consumer spaces.
The company hopes to save homeowners money. On their website, they point out some costs associated with trees, including:
- Replanting of a new mature tree is $1,000
- Removal of a dead tree is $2,000
- Replacement of a fence or roof if your tree falls is $5,000+
However, the product itself isn’t cheap either. A bundle of ten starts at $500.
