The Economic Value of Street Trees

In a piece on Strong Towns, Emma Durand-Wood extols the many benefits of urban trees, which contribute to everything from cooler temperatures to cleaner air to higher property values.

Money talks. While the critical environmental benefits that trees provide (like capturing carbon, cleaning the air and supporting biodiversity) have tremendous and calculable value, advocating for trees on an environmental basis isn’t always effective.

To that end, Durand-Wood outlines some of the tangible, economic benefits of street trees. These include, surprisingly, longer lasting roads: “street trees prolong the life of road surfaces by keeping them cooler and reducing temperature fluctuations.” According to one study, the amount of shade on a street is directly correlated to the length of time needed between repaving treatments.

Another benefit: less flooding, since “A mature tree can intercept 30%-40% of rainfall before it even hits the ground.” Trees also create more comfortable and safe walking and biking conditions, provide shade at bus stops and in public spaces, and help reduce cooling bills by lowering surrounding air temperature.

Durand-Wood concludes, “Planting and maintaining street trees is an investment, but it’s one that pays for itself over and over again.” According to a USDA study, every dollar spent on planting and maintaining urban tree canopies yields between $1.37 to $3.09 in benefits.