Trees Are Important
Neighborhood Character
Would you rather live here ...
... or here?
Trees largely define the way a neighborhood feels, and are what make our leafy suburbs desirable.
Beyond aesthetics, they bring other tangible benefits.
Local Climate
Trees provide shade in the summer and shield our homes from wind in the winter.
This has a very significant impact on the comfort and livability of our public spaces, and on the energy we consume heating and cooling our homes.
Energy Costs
Trees provide shade in the summer and buffer the winds in winter, reducing the energy we expend heating and cooling our homes. For every 1% we grow our neighborhood tree canopy, we use 1.9% less energy cooling and 1.1% less energy heating our homes.
Property Value
A mature tree can't be replaced, so it's hard to put a price on that. Nevertheless, there are standard appraisal formulas for assessing the loss to property value when a tree is damaged or destroyed.
For example, a 24" diameter cedar tree in town was valued at $21,000, using the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraiser’s Trunk Formula Technique.
Noise Reduction
Trees absorb a tremendous amount of noise from traffic, heavy equipment, and other nuisances.
Water Table Management
Trees remove a lot of water from the ground, lowering the water table. Many people have seen their basements start to flood after large trees were removed nearby.
Privacy
If you've ever had a tree taken down, you know how exposed your property feels afterwards.
Air Quality
Trees filter the air by trapping airborne particulates on their folliage, which is then washed away by rain.
Habitat
A single tree is an ecosystem unto itself. Trees provide a home for a vast array of insects, birds, and woodland creatures. Oak trees are known to support over 2,300 different species, including:
38 bird species
31 mammal species
108 fungi
229 bryophytes (mosses)
716 lichens
1178 invertibrates (e.g., insects)
