Trees Are Worth the Investment

Trees improve cities by controlling temperature, absorbing water and carbon dioxide, and adding beauty.

1 minute read

May 12, 2018, 9:00 AM PDT

By Casey Brazeal @northandclark


Chicago Lake Michigan Trees

Joseph Sohm / Shutterstock

State University of New York Professor Theodore Endreny and his team sought to calculate the value of trees to their cities in terms of dollars and cents. Cities are serviced by their trees, Endreny argues in The Conversation. "These services can include food, clean air and water, climate and flood control, pollination, recreation and noise damping. We currently don’t simulate many services, so our calculations actually underestimate the value of urban trees."

Besides saving cities close to a million dollars per kilometer of tree cover in air pollution mitigation, "the median annual value of carbon dioxide sequestered by megacity tree cover was $7.9 million. That comes out to about $17,000 per square kilometer," Endreny writes. The study found a great variety in the density of the canopy of the 10 megacities, but "[a]ll of the cities we studied had the potential to add additional trees, with about 18 percent of the metropolitan area on average available."

Friday, April 27, 2018 in The Conversation

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Metrorail train pulling into newly opened subterranean station in Washington, D.C. with crowd on platform taking photos.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”

The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

June 2, 2025 - The Hill

Large crowd on street in San Francisco, California during Oktoberfest festival.

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns

In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

June 2, 2025 - Robbie Silver

Bike Parking Utrecht Centraal Station

Supporting Cycling Takes More Than Just Bike Lanes

Safe, protected bike lanes are a key part of a city’s bike infrastructure — but secure parking, e-bike charging, and other amenities can also influence people’s shift to cycling.

7 hours ago - Cities Today

A blue and white Sound Transit heavy rail commuter trail with downtown Seattle skyline in background.

Judge Blocks Anti-DEI Rules for Transportation, Housing Grants

A second injunction blocks the Trump administration from enforcing new regulations for federal funding.

June 11 - The Seattle Times

San Jose, California city hall with glass dome in front of modern multistory building.

Unhoused People in San Jose Could Face Arrest if They Refuse Shelter

A policy proposed by the city’s mayor would give law enforcement the option to arrest homeless residents if they refuse three offers of housing.

June 11 - Associated Press