CitiesGoGreen - February 2009 - (Page 21) More value from trees While clean air and water are the primary benefits trees generate, by planting new and caring for existing trees, cities can go green by actually having the color green permeate their out of doors, and realize green dollar savings as well. US Forest Service researchers along with help from Minneapolis, Minnesota Tree Trust urban forestry volunteers, and the MN Department of Natural Resources Urban Forestry program, have calculated the individual and collective value of trees. Using the free i-Tree software suite, they found that one yard tree in its 20th year after planting has benefits of $96 with costs of $36, making a net benefit of $60; 100 trees have $364,000 in benefits with $92,000 in costs, with a 40-year net benefit of $272,000. This is for residential trees with a 60% survival rate over 40 years. Apply these numbers to Midwestern trees in parks and woodlots and the dollar and environmental benefits compound with interest. Urban trees properly cared for are valuable and growing assets worth three times their initial investment. In addition, thanks to new technolo- forming and framing visual walls, providgies and research, trees continue to prove ing distinct edges to sidewalks. These themselves as the ultimate multi-purpose factors cause drivers to assess their speed and reduce it. green tool: National leaders promote walking or • Street trees 32 ft. tall can reduce riding bicycles to reduce our reliance on stormwater runoff by 327 gallons. • 74% of consumers prefer establishments with trees There’s a strong case for cities and towns and spend 12% more on to preserve and conserve large trees and goods in tree-lined areas. • Trees add to the sales ap- woodland tracts. peal of commercial land. • Buildings with trees and other plants gasoline-powered vehicles, yet vehicular traffic produces 33% of the national total have a higher occupancy rate. • Developers maximize profits by retain- of ground level ozone and 49% of particulate matter. Air quality affects the health of ing existing trees and/or replanting. • Homes with trees increase property walkers and bicyclists and poor air quality can be a deterrent to using these modes value by 6%. • Property lots with trees increase in of transportation. value by 5-20%. Walkers who have trees to shade them, • A California study showed that shad- block them from traffic, clean the air, ing caused by trees increases pave- and infiltrate storm water pollutants, are healthier, as we all are. Moreover, costs of ment life by 40-60%. New trees, properly placed, and exist- maintaining services for energy consumping trees, well-maintained, make pedes- tion, air cleaning campaigns, stormwater trians safer and reduce vehicle accidents. costs, and an overall unhealthy environTrees slow down traffic and create safer ment are reduced. walking environments. They do this by Benefits of the urban forest Center for Urban Forest Research Current, science-based, easy-tounderstand, ready-to-use urban forest research. Human Dimensions of Urban Forestry and Urban Greening Research showing how trees positively influence behavior and community economics. Landscape and Human Health Laboratory Vivid, free, downloadable factsheets connecting trees to human health and behavior (left column). Urban Watershed Forestry Resources and links. Three colorful, easy to use, downloadable tool box manuals on using trees to protect and restore urban watersheds. Establishing urban forestry programs American Society of Consulting Arborists Consulting arborists advise in challenging urban forestry and arboriculture situations. Website helps locate the appropriate tree care professional. International Society of Arboriculture; Trees are Good Consumer publications on trees’ benefits, selection, planting and all arboriculture practices. Also contact information for Certified Arborists in specific locales. National Arbor Day Foundation; Tree City USA program Tree City USA is a national recognition program for communities with urban forestry programs. Urban Natural Resources Institute Webcasts and e-learning. Regular, free instructional webcasts on the latest urban forestry trends and technologies featuring USDA Forest Service researchers and a broad array of urban forestry experts. digital edition resources Interactive tools Learn how much pollution your trees are removing: American Forests Air Quality Calculator. Find out how many trees your community needs to plant to mitigate its carbon footprint: AmericanForests.org. i-Tree is a free software suite from the USDA Forest Service, providing urban and community forestry analysis and benefits assessment tools. Environmental practices American Forests-Urban Forests Ecosystem services of the urban forest. Determine tree canopy coverage goals, learn how many trees will offset your carbon footprint and calculate the air quality for your community. Center for Watershed Protection Trees are the new urban hydrology. Learn how they clean the water we drink. More information Urban Street Trees, 22 Benefits Developing and Managing an Urban Forestry Program for Public Works; American Public Works Association, 2007 February/March 2009 21 http://www.itreetools.org/ http://www.na.fs.fed.us/urban/treespayusback/vol1/index.html http://km.fao.org/urbanforestry/repository/library0/detail/en/news/1950/icode/ http://www.cwp.org/Resource_Library/Special_Resource_Management/forestry.htm http://www.unri.org/webcasts/ http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/programs/cufr/research/air.shtml http://www.naturewithin.info/ http://www.asca-consultants.org/directory/index.cfm http://www.naturewithin.info/ http://www.asca-consultants.org/directory/index.cfm http://americanforests.org/airqual/index.php http://americanforests.org/airqual/index.php http://www.lhhl.uiuc.edu/all.scientific.articles.htm http://www.lhhl.uiuc.edu/all.scientific.articles.htm http://www.treesaregood.org/treecare/treecareinfo.aspx http://americanforests.org/resources/ccc/ http://www.treesaregood.org/treecare/treecareinfo.aspx http://www.itreetools.org/ http://americanforests.org/resources/urbanforests/ http://www.arborday.org/programs/treeCityUSA/ http://km.fao.org/urbanforestry/repository/library0/detail/en/news/1950/icode/ http://www.arborday.org/programs/treeCityUSA/ http://www.apwa.net/About/CoopAgreements/urbanforestry/ http://www.apwa.net/About/CoopAgreements/urbanforestry/ http://www.cwp.org http://www.apwa.net/About/CoopAgreements/urbanforestry/ http://www.CitiesGoGreen.com
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