GreenAccounting:

Adding Up theWays TreesPay Us Back

Dr. Greg McPherson

CaUFC ConferenceSeptember 8, 2006

Center for Urban Forest Research

Center for Urban Forest Research

USDA Forest ServicePSW Research Station

Davis, CA

To demonstrate newways that trees add

value - quality of life -to communities.

We convert researchresults into financialterms to stimulate

community investment in trees.

Problem/Solution• Under-value goods and

services from trees and forests

• Effect on human health andwell-being

• Value-added by management

• Roles of research & technicalassistance– Strategic Approaches

– Assess Potential

– Multiple Functions

– Minimize Conflicts

– Help Maximize ROI

– Monitor and Report Progress

Approach

ValueValue

FunctionFunction

ManagementManagement

StructureStructure

San Francisco Bay AreaCanopy Cover Analysis

• Historic Change

– LandSat 30 m

– 1984, 1995, 2002

• Current Canopy

– Aster 15 m

– Value of benefits

• Future Canopy

– Tree Planting Scenarios

– Project Value of Benefits

Land Cover Change Results

15%25%42%PerviousSurface

56%50%39%ImperviousSurface

29%25%19%CanopyCover

200219951984

Canopy Cover 1984

Canopy Cover 1995

Canopy Cover 2002

Impervious Surface 1984

Impervious Surface 1995

Impervious Surface 2002

San Jose: Current Tree Canopy

– Land Cover

• Tree – 12% (2 million

trees)

– Other Tree Cover(1990)

• San Jose = 8%

(AVHRR)

• Menlo Park = 24%

San Jose: Total Annual Benefits

• Total Ann Benefits= $122.5 Million($59/tree)

• Benefit Type– Aesthetics/Other -

$106.7 M

– Energy - $8.3 M

– CO2 - $3.6 M

– Storm runoff - $1.7 M

– Air quality - $1.1 M

Oakland Watershed Restoration& Protection Project

• 1,800 trees• Add 6% canopy cover• Reduce runoff by 9 million

gallons (1%)

• Measure and modelbenefits

• Side-by-Side: with andwithout trees• Curbside runoff• Soil moisture

• Mature Tree: deciduousand evergreen• Interception• Pollutant washoff

Sacramento Region Urban ForestClean Air Demonstration Project

• Science-based regionalstudy of air qualitybenefits from planting 5million trees.

• Low-Emitters lower ROGs7 tpd

• Mod-High Emittersincrease ROGs 7 tpd

• Ozone reduced 3.4 tpd

• NOx reduced 0.7 tpd

• PM10 reduced 3 tpd

• Now being reviewed bySMAQMD Board and EPA

Los Angeles One Million TreesInitiative Canopy Cover Assessment

• Study Goals• Current tree canopy cover

• 21%, 10.7 mil1ion trees

• Number and type of treeplanting sites

• Value of ecosystem servicesfor 40 yrs

• Final Products• Report (results by city and

council district)

• GIS database for programimplementation and tracking

Inventory Current Canopy Cover

• High resolution (2m)Quickbird imagery

• Computerclassification• Tree canopy

• Irrigated pervious

• Unirrigated pervious

• Impervious

• Current canopy• Park Area: 25 acres

• Canopy: 11 ac (43%)

Existing Park Benefit

• $137,210 per year, 458,590 cubic ft

Inventory Potential Tree PlantingSites

• Results: 160 tree sites• Small: 52

• Medium: 57

• Large: 51

• New canopy (nomortality)• 4 acres, 15%

• Increase total canopy from

43% to 59%

Project Future Benefits• Develop tree planting scenarios (numbers by type and site, mortality)

• Project benefits for 40 years: $367,000, $2,300/tree, $57/tree/yr

• Energy savings (7%)

• Carbon reductions (4%)

• Air quality improvement (39%)

• Stormwater reduction (6%)

• Aesthetic and other benefits (44%)

Benefits from Planting 160 Trees in Hazard Park, Los Angeles

$0

$10,000

$20,000

$30,000

$40,000

$50,000

$60,000

$70,000

$80,000

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Year after Planting

Energy CO2 Air Quality Runoff Aesthetics

• Goal: EducationalInteractive/Easy/Fun

• Audience:Teaching/trainingcenters, non-profits,laypeople

• Web-based

• www.ecoSmart.gov

• Integrative

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STRATUM and i-Tree:Tools for Improving Management andInvestment in our Urban Forests

Trees Pay Us Back!!

• Research Outcomes• Highlight value of urban

forests• Justify investment in

management andacquisition

• Leverage funds from othersources benefiting fromservices

• Develop management plansto increase functionality &ROI

• Baseline for trackingprogress

• www.fs.fed.us/psw/programs/cufr

• iTreetools.org

Urban Forestry is Partnerships

U&CF Tipping Point• New Leadership & Awareness

• At the Top

• Grass Roots

• New Investment & Responsibility

• Los Angeles

• Sacramento: Energy & AirQuality

• Green Streets & Carbon

• Making it Pay!

• New Tools for Project Planning,Budgeting, & Monitoring

Conclusion

CUFR Program Review, Sept. 20-21