Value of Planting Urban Trees Quantified

Value of Planting Urban Trees Quantified

Submitted by Rene Jones Lafflam on Sun, 2006-07-23 15:08.

Investment in a city’s green infrastructure, which includes trees, has financial and other benefits just as investments in a city’s grey infrastructure (roads, sewers, powerplants) do.

A 2005 US Forest Service (USFS) study finds that single trees in southern or central Minnesota can generate a net benefit (total benefits minus initial and annual maintenance costs) of $160 – $3,040 during a 40-year period. The nearly 200,000 public trees in Minneapolis alone provide a total gross annual benefit of $24.9 million.

Factors analyzed (most of which contribute a quantified dollar value) in the study are:

  • energy savings
  • increased property values
  • reduced stormwater runoff
  • improved air quality
  • reduced carbon dioxide
  • improved retail sales in tree-rich commercial districts
  • noise reduction
  • beauty and all resulting intangible personal and social benefits

Some cities earn the title “Tree City USA” from the National Arbor Day Foundation by proving that their city as met four requirements:

  1. establishing a tree board or department
  2. passing an ordinance on tree care
  3. establishing an annual tree budget of at least $2 per resident
  4. planning an annual Arbor Day celebration

Rochester is a Tree City USA. However, Minnesota communities have begun to take urban trees for granted, with state funding for urban forestry reduced, and more than three dozen Minnesota towns losing their Tree City USA designation. It’s time for the Rochester community of neighbors to take steps towards valuing our urban forest.

At the Minnesota Tree web site you can find information on Tree City, and other resources to help strengthen your city’s green infrastructure, including:

  1. Midwest Community Tree Guide: Benefits, Costs, and Strategic Planning;
  2. Trees in Our City (PowerPoint presentation)
  3. Trees Pay Us Back brochure

An article discussing the return on investment to Midwestern communities for planting trees Green as Money was highligted in the March/April 2006 issue of the Minnesota Volunteer magazine.