Community and Urban Forestry

The Benefits of Trees

Drew Hart
US Forest Service
Community and Urban Forestry
Chicago Region
 What exactly is the
Urban Forest?

Forest Preserves/Natural Areas Buffer Trees/Shelter Belts

Street Trees

Trees on private property Trees in Parks

 What is Urban and
Community Forestry?

• Focus on trees and forests in

urban and rural communities
where people live, work, play
• Multi-disciplinary: plant and
soil science, ecology,
economics, horticulture,
forestry, planning, public
policy, research, landscape
architecture, sociology
 Benefits of Trees
Economic, Environmental, and Social
Environmental Benefits
of Urban Trees
 Mitigating the Urban Heat
Island Effect-Trees as air conditioners
• Mature tree
canopy
reduces air
temperatures
by 5-10˚F.
• This
influences
the internal
temperatures of
nearby
buildings.
 Cleaning the air
• US urban trees remove
711,000 metric tons of air
pollution per year.
• They filter particulate matter
which is bad for the lungs.
• Strategies for using trees to
improve air quality include:
• Plant long-lived, pollution tolerant, low maintenance species.
• Plant trees along transportation corridors.
• Plant evergreens for year-round removal of PM.
 Trapping stormwater runoff
and preventing soil erosion
• Rainwater  storm drains = does
not filter down to replenish
aquifers – also takes road and
other surface pollutants with it.
• Runoff can erode soil.
• Urban forest can reduce annual
stormwater runoff by 2–7%.
• Trees ‘catch’ rainwater on their leaves (interception).
• A mature tree can store 50-100 gallons of water during
large storms.
 Phyto-remediation* +
Dendro-remediation
• Roots can take up
contaminants in
groundwater and soil.
• Leaves can break down
contaminants into less
harmful substances.
• Heavy contaminants can
be stored in roots, leaves,
branches.

*Phyto = plant; Remediation = the process of fixing (remedying) a problem

Phytoremediation = the process of using plants to fix a problem (pollution)
Economic Benefits of
Urban Trees
 Shade = $$$

• Trees can be used effectively to

shade air conditioners, windows,
or walls.
• Tree shade helps extend the life
of pavement, reducing the need
for street maintenance and
repaving.
• Trees around buildings acting as
windbreaks can save $ on winter
heating costs.
 Property Values
• Trees increased home sales prices
in Athens, GA $1475 - $1750
(annual increase of $100,000 in the
city’s property tax).
• In Minnesota, 10% increase in tree
cover within 100 m increases
average home sale price by $1371.
 Trees are Good for Business
• In tree-lined commercial districts...
– More frequent
shopping
– Longer shopping
trips
– Shoppers spend
more for parking
• Shoppers spend
12% more in areas
with trees and landscaping
 Trees Pay Us Back

100 Trees Over 40 Years...

Costs = $136,000
Benefits = $272,000
Planting - Pruning
Energy
Removal/Disposal
Air Quality Irrigation
Runoff Sidewalk Repair

Real Estate Litter

Pay Off: $136,000

McPherson, E.G., J.R. Simpson, P.J. Peper, S.E. Maco, S.L. Gardner, S.K. Cozad and Q. Xiao. 2005.
Midwest community tree guide: benefits, costs and strategic planting. Davis, CA: Center for Urban
Forest Research, Pacific Southwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service. 82.
Social Benefits of
Urban Trees
 Health Benefits

Ulrich study of hospital patients

Patients with green view stayed less time
in the hospital,
requested less pain medication, and
had more positive attitude.

Follow up study showed

that heart patients felt less anxiety
and needed less medication
after they viewed photos of
nature scenes with trees and water.
Kids with a green view
concentrate better
• Sullivan and Kuo study on green
views and kids with ADHD
– Kids suffer the worst symptoms when
they are indoors.
– Playing outside on a paved area
decreases symptoms of ADHD.
– Playing outdoors in a green area
alleviates symptoms even more.
• Companion study on girls’ school
performance
– The greener the view, the better they
do.
 Additional Benefits

• Trees help create walkable

communities.
• Mid-block trees on a traffic
island can help calm traffic.
• Trees can separate incompatible
uses (like transportation and
recreation), and act as a noise barrier.
• Tree planting and greening can help foster a sense of
pride in the community.
• Provide habitat for wildlife.
Tools and Resources available
for Urban Forestry efforts
Urban Tree
Canopy Assessments
Parcel Census Neighborhood City Watershed
 Chicago Region Trees
Initiative
• Chicago region partners
working together to develop
and implement a strategy
toward a healthier and more
diverse urban forest

• Develop collaborative
management strategies

• Measure improvements

• Build public awareness and

support
• Founded in 1963, mission to protect
the natural places and open spaces
of the region
• Focus on greenways, land
preservation, community greening,
environmental policy, and teaching
• TreeKeepers, GardenKeepers,
coordinate volunteers
• Community Trees Program: Helps communities, public and
private landowners, land managers, tree professionals and
groups interested in trees manage and care for our urban and
community forest.
• Review or develop ordinances to protect trees
• Tree science and urban forestry research
• Seven-county Tree Census
done in 2010
– Estimated trees: 157,142,000
– Measures sizes, ID species
 US Forest Service Urban
& Community Forestry
1950s and 60s: Dutch Elm Disease devastates America's urban
forests – elm population is virtually wiped out.
1968: Urban forestry officially recognized as field of study in
forestry schools in the U.S.
USFS Urban and Community Forestry program
• Provides technical, financial, research, education
• Works with local governments, non profits, community
groups, schools, and tribal governments
• Mission: “Sustain the trees and forests where people live,
work and play.”
http://www.fs.fed.us/ucf/
 Indiana Urban & Community
Forestry Program
• Focus on planning, planting, maintenance and management
of IL trees and forest ecosystems
• Help communities with TreeCityUSA certification
– Designate an individual or a group to care for
the urban forest
– Tree care ordinance
– Minimum annual expenditure of $2 per capita
– Arbor Day proclamation & public tree planting
• U&CF Assistance Program provides grants for creating,
enhancing and developing urban forestry programs.
Thank you for caring for our
Urban Forests!