The Economic and Environmental Benefits of Urban Trees
Trees and forests provide community, economic, and ecosystem values that are well documented in research literatures. The UFORE analysis in this study calculated the extent and value of three major tree and forest benefits: pollution removal, carbon storage and sequestration, and energy savings. The study also calculated the value of trees for what they are, not just what they do. This replacement value corresponds to the estimated worth of each tree as it exists in the landscape.
Pollution Removal
Poor air quality can impair human health, damage crops and other vegetation, and reduce visibility. The Houston region is legally mandated to meet federal air quality standards. Houston's regional forest helps improve air quality by reducing air temperatures, directly removing pollutants from the air, and reducing building energy use and consequent pollutants from power plants. The UFORE model calculates that Houston's regional forest annually removes 60,575 tons of criteria air pollutants (as designated in the Clean Air Act). This is an annual economic value of nearly $300 million.
Carbon Storage and Sequestration
Trees play an important role in the carbon cycle and associated climate variability. They moderate the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis. Carbon locked up in trees year after years is referred to as carbon storage. As trees grow, they sequester additional carbon. The UFORE model estimates that Houston's regional forest stores 39.2 million tons of carbon, valued at $721 million. The regional forest sequesters and additional 1.6 million tons annually, valued at $29 million per year.Energy Savings
Trees after energy use by providing shade, by the evaporative cooling effect of their leaves, and by blocking winter winds. Trees are particularly benefits in areas like Houston that relay on air conditioning through much of the year. In this study, trees located within 60 feet of one- and two-story residential buildings were evaluated to calculate energy savings. The estimated total value of cooling energy saved is $112 million per year. Energy savings for these homes, plus the value of avoided carbon emissions, total $131 million per year.Replacement Value
Trees have an intrinsic value that can be measured in dollars based on their presence and contribution to the landscape setting. This replacement value is calculated using procedures set forth by the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers. This method can be used to determine monetary settlements for damage or death of plants through litigation, insurance claims, loss of property value for income tax deductions, and real estate assessments. Values derived from these procedures estimate the amount of money a tree owner should be compensated for the loss of a particular tree. The UFORE model estimates a total replacement value of $205.8 billion for Houston's regional forest.Summary of Values
Houston's regional forest has a total estimated structural value of $206.5 billion. Structural value combines replacement values of trees and carbon storage values. It represents the total value of trees as they stand.But because trees live and grow each year, the region's forest provides annual functional values, such as air pollution removal, carbon sequestration, and energy savings. Function values total an additional $456 million per year.
 Previous Page |
 Table of Contents |
 Next Page |