Assessing Urban Forest Effects And Values New York City S Urban Forest

An analysis of trees in New York City reveals that this city has about 5.2 million trees with canopies that cover 20.9 percent of the area. The most common tree species are tree of heaven, black cherry, and sweetgum. The urban forest currently stores about 1.35 million tons of carbon valued at $24.9 million. In addition, these trees remove about 42,300 tons of carbon per year ($779,000 per year) and about 2,202 tons of air pollution per year ($10.6 million per year). The structural, or compensatory, value is estimated at $5.2 billion. Information on the structure and functions of the urban forest can be used to improve and augment support for urban forest management programs and to integrate urban forests within plans to improve environmental quality in the New York City area.

An analysis of trees in Washington, D.C. reveals that this city has about 1,928,000 trees with canopies that cover 28.6 percent of the area. The most common tree species are American beech, red maple, and boxelder. The urban forest currently store about 526,000 tons of carbon valued at $9.7 million. In addition, these trees remove about 16,200 tons of carbon per year ($299,000 per year) and about 540 tons of air pollution per year ($2.5 million per year). The structural, or compensatory, value is estimated at $3.6 billion. Information on the structure and functions of the urban forest can be used to improve and augment support for urban forest management programs and to integrate urban forests within plans to improve environmental quality in the Washington, D.C. area.

An analysis of trees in San Francisco, CA reveals that this city has about 669,000 trees with canopies that cover 11.9 percent of the area. The most common tree species are blue gum eucalyptus, Monterey pine, and Monterey cypress. The urban forest currently stores about 196,000 tons of carbon valued at $3.6 million. In addition, these trees remove about 5,200 tons of carbon per year ($95,000 per year) and about 260 tons of air pollution per year ($1.3 million per year). The structural, or compensatory, value is estimated at $1.7 billion. Information on the structure and functions of the urban forest can be used to improve and augment support for urban forest management programs and to integrate urban forests within plans to improve environmental quality in the San Francisco area.

An analysis of trees in Casper, WY reveals that this city has about 123,000 trees with canopies that cover 8.9 percent of the area. The most common tree species are plains cottonwood, blue spruce, and American elm. The urban forest currently store about 37,000 tons of carbon valued at $689,000. In addition, these trees remove about 1,200 tons of carbon per year ($22,000 per year) and about 50 tons of air pollution per year ($249,000 per year). The structural, or compensatory, value is estimated at $243 million. Information on the structure and functions of the urban forest can be used to improve and augment support for urban forest management programs and to integrate urban forests within plans to improve environmental quality in the Casper area.

An analysis of trees in Philadelphia reveals that this city has about 2.1 million trees with canopies that cover 15.7 percent of the area. The most common tree species are black cherry, crabapple, and tree of heaven. The urban forest currently stores about 530,000 tons of carbon valued at $9.8 million. In addition, these trees remove about 16,100 tons of carbon per year ($297,000 per year) and about 802 tons of air pollution per year ($3.9 million per year). The structural, or compensatory, value is estimated at $1.8 billion. Information on the structure and functions of the urban forest can be used to improve and augment support for urban forest management programs and to integrate urban forests within plans to improve environmental quality in the Philadelphia area.

"An analysis of trees in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, reveals that this city has about 10.2 million trees with a tree and shrub canopy that covers approximately 26.6 percent of the city. The most common tree species are eastern white-cedar, sugar maple, and Norway maple. The urban forest currently stores an estimated 1.1 million metric tons of carbon valued at CAD$25.0 million. In addition, these trees remove about 46,700 metric tons of carbon per year (CAD$1.1 million per year) and about 1,905 metric tons of air pollution per year (CAD$16.9 million per year). Trees in Toronto are estimated to reduce annual residential energy costs by CAD$9.7 million per year. The compensatory value is estimated at CAD$7.1 billion. Information on the structure and functions of the urban forest can be used to improve and augment support for urban forest management programs and to integrate urban forests within plans to improve environmental quality in the Toronto area."--Abstracts.

An analysis of trees in Chicago, IL, reveals that the city has about 3,585,000 trees with canopies that cover 17.2 percent of the area. The most common tree species are white ash, mulberry species, green ash, and tree-of-heaven. Chicago's urban forest currently stores about 716,000 tons of carbon valued at $14.8 million. In addition, these trees remove about 25,200 tons of carbon per year ($521,000 per year) and about 888 tons of air pollution per year ($6.4 million per year). Trees in Chicago are estimated to reduce annual residential energy costs by $360,000 per year. The structural, or compensatory, value is estimated at $2.3 billion. Information on the structure and functions of the urban forest can be used to inform urban forest management programs and to integrate urban forests within plans to improve environmental quality in the Chicago area.