The Benefits of Trees
Street/roadside trees help mitigate climate change, increase climate change resilience, and
provide other benefits:
provide other benefits:
|
carbon capture
reduction in heat island effects reduction in energy costs reduction in air pollution reduction in storm water runoff reduction in flooding reduction in erosion noise abatement |
higher property values (aesthetics)
higher retail business income (aesthetics) habitat for birds and animals protection of street pavement traffic calming (reduction in traffic speed) safer communities attractive community character (aesthetics) improved mental and physical health |
About the Benefits of Trees
See Benefits of Trees for a comprehensive statement by the Urban Forestry Division of the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) with helpful links.
Hartford Connecticut's Tree Canopy Action Plan 2020 is a comprehensive examination of the benefits of the urban tree canopy, planning to increase it and of the proper planting, care of urban trees and reuse of wood from removed trees. The plan has not yet been formally adopted by the City of Hartford, but is under consideration.
"In Defense of Tall Trees" by Chris Donnelly, published in Connecticut Woodlands, Winter 2015, Vol. 79, No. 4, a publication of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association. As the article states, tall trees provide many of these benefits to a greater extent than smaller stature trees.
Big, old trees continue to grow and capture increasing amounts of carbon ( 1/15/2014 LA Times news report of a study reported in Nature.)
"Greening Our Streets," by F. Kaid Benfield, Huffington Post, 6-05-2015. Discussion of tree planting policies in a number of cities and the benefits of such policies.
The article, "Think About Your Urban Trees Before Planting Them . . ." (December 6, 2013), discusses the benefits of street trees and how trees can be planted to maximize their benefits. It also discusses how disposing of trees after they have been cut down can increase carbon emissions, depending on the method used. Thus, removal of healthy large trees not only eliminates beneficial carbon reduction, but is likely to increase carbon emissions.
Calculating the Monetary Value of Street Trees
To the extent that all of the benefits of trees cannot be easily and accurately monetized, decisions about street trees should not be based solely on calculations of monetary value. Nevertheless, the calculations are useful.
I-Tree can be used to calculate the monetary value of the benefits of the street trees in your neighborhood, town or city. Click Swarthmore Street to see the results of using I-Tree on this Hamden street.
NOTE: This calculation is not the basis for the damages and penalties that could be recovered for unauthorized removal or pruning of trees and shrubs under CT law.
NOTE: This calculation is not the basis for the damages and penalties that could be recovered for unauthorized removal or pruning of trees and shrubs under CT law.
"Assessment of the Environmental Service Benefits of the City of New Haven’s Street Tree Population"
by Suzanne Oversvee
Master's Project, Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies
Spring 2007
by Suzanne Oversvee
Master's Project, Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies
Spring 2007