Professional Documents
Culture Documents
T I B U F: HE Mportance and Enefits of The Rban Orest
T I B U F: HE Mportance and Enefits of The Rban Orest
Joseph O'Brien, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
W HERE IS T HIS S TREET ?
Economic
Environmental
Social and Behavioral
E CONOMIC B ENEFITS
R ETAIL
Most inviting
E CONOMIC B ENEFITS
R ESIDENTIAL P ROPERTY VALUES
E CONOMIC B ENEFITS
C OMMERCIAL P ROPERTY O CCUPANCY
E NVIRONMENTAL B ENEFITS
S HADE
E NVIRONMENTAL B ENEFITS
C OMBAT U RBAN H EAT -I SLAND E FFECT
E NVIRONMENTAL B ENEFITS
S HADE = L OWER C OOLING C OSTS
With a tree Without a tree
E NVIRONMENTAL B ENEFITS
I MPROVED A IR Q UALITY
Trees trap and absorb
airborne dirt and
chemical particles
CO2 is absorbed and the
carbon is stored
E NVIRONMENTAL B ENEFITS
I MPROVED WATER Q UALITY
Less stormwater runoff
Less erosion and sedimentation
Reduced peak stormwater flows
Less flooding
Fewer storm sewers and flood
easements needed
Groundwater recharge
E NVIRONMENTAL B ENEFITS
I NCREASED W ILDLIFE H ABITAT
Diversity in vegetation
promotes wildlife diversity
Terry L Spivey, Terry Spivey Photography, Bugwood.org
Native vegetation supports
native wildlife
Backyard wildlife
popularity
Shaded streams regulate
water temperatures
E NVIRONMENTAL B ENEFITS
I MPACTS OF T REE C ANOPY L OSS
Higher temperatures
Outdoor spaces with trees are used more often than
barren spaces
Increase social interaction
Higher levels of social cohesion among neighbors
Increase sense of safety
Stronger neighborhood ties – more physically &
mentally healthy
S OCIAL AND B EHAVIORAL B ENEFITS
T REES AND P UBLIC H EALTH
Reduces time in the hospital
Relieves stress
Improves air quality
Improves water quality
Increases some allergies
S OCIAL AND B EHAVIORAL B ENEFITS
B UFFERS AND S CREENING
Trees absorb and deflect sound energy
Act as noise buffers/barriers
Buffer/hide unwanted views
Direct vehicle or pedestrian traffic
Reduce glare
S OCIAL AND B EHAVIORAL B ENEFITS
C OMMUNITY P RIDE
Community image or
identity
Sense of place
New business/visitor
promotion
Downtown revitalization
Tree City USA®
S OCIAL AND B EHAVIORAL B ENEFITS
C OMMUNITY P RIDE
Nine Tree City USA® Communities in RLUAC area
Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, Laurinburg, Maxton, Pinehurst,
Pope AFB, Red Springs, St. Pauls, and Southern Pines
Communities with tree themed nicknames
Fayetteville – City of Dogwoods
Angier – Town of Crepe Myrtles
Communities with tree names
Linden , Pinebluff, Pinehurst, Pineview, Southern Pines, Whispering
Pines
S OCIAL AND B EHAVIORAL B ENEFITS
I NSPIRATIONAL VALUE
ees because they seem more resigned to the way they have to live
her things do. Willa Cather (1873‐1947), O Pioneers 1913
Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I
can appreciate persistence. Hal Borland, Countryman: A Summary of Belief
k that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree… Joyce Kilmer (1886‐1918), Trees
ople who will not sustain trees will soon live in a world that will not sustain people.
ce Nelson
Acts of creation are ordinarily reserved for gods and poets. To plant a pine,
one need only own a shovel. Aldo Leopold
B ENEFITS OF U RBAN T REES
B ENEFITS AND C OSTS
Benefits Costs
Cooling Planting
Pruning
Heating
Mulch
CO2 Absorption Removal and Disposal
Pest Control
Air Quality
Infrastructure Repairs
Water Quality Irrigation
Aesthetics Clean‐up
Contribute VOC
Property Values Legal and Liability
Inspections
B ENEFITS OF U RBAN T REES
N ET B ENEFITS
40 year average of net benefits
large tree medium tree small tree conifer
Monthan AFB, AZ
nopy – 8%
42%
water Runoff Reduction – 5%
23%
er Energy Savings ‐ $7.78/home
$20.02/home
Sequestration – 0.45 tons/yr
2.40 tons/yr
P LAN F OR THE U RBAN F OREST
New parking lots designed to utilize trees
P LAN F OR THE U RBAN F OREST
Old parking lots retrofitted for trees
P LAN F OR THE U RBAN F OREST
Flexible set‐back requirements for older suburbs
P LAN F OR THE U RBAN F OREST
Planting the right tree in the right place in urban core
areas and commercial districts
P LAN F OR THE U RBAN F OREST
Tree canopy provisions inserted into zoning
requirements
P LAN F OR THE U RBAN F OREST
Plant freeway on and off ramps in trees instead of
high maintenance grass
New parking lots designed to utilize trees
Old parking lots retrofitted for trees
Flexible set‐back requirements for older suburbs
Planting the right tree in the right place in urban
core areas and commercial districts
Tree canopy provisions inserted into zoning
requirements
Plant freeway on and off ramps in trees instead of
high maintenance grass
I NCREASE U RBAN T REE C ANOPY
I NCREASE U RBAN T REE C ANOPY
100%
764 764
% of total acres (7,565) in City
2,625 3,230
80%
60%
Water
2,746 Trees
40% 2,444
Meadow
Impervious
20%
1,430
1,127
0%
Current 8% Increase Tree
I NCREASE U RBAN T REE C ANOPY
350,000
300,000
250,000 115,179
lbs. Removed / yr
93,600 Particulates
200,000
31,674 SO2
150,000 25,740 28,795 NO2
23,400 O3
100,000
CO
132,456
50,000 107,640
0 4,680 5,759
Current 8% Increase Tree
T HE I MPORTANCE AND B ENEFITS
OF THE U RBAN F OREST
Q UESTIONS ?
Contact information:
Alan Moore
Eastern Region Urban Forestry Specialist
Office (919)857‐4841