Calculating Benefits and Savings
TREE CALCULATORS
There are several online calculators that you can use to measure the dollar value of not only Ponderosa pines, but any trees on your property. Each tree has unique characteristics and benefits and adds value to the surrounding landscape. Some species are better suited to areas than others.
The National Tree Benefit Calculator: This calculator was created by Casey Trees and Davey Tree Expert Co. as a way to provide general information about tree benefits nationally. These two companies worked together to conduct an impressive urban forest analysis in Washington D.C. It is easy to use and tally's up the general benefits of individual trees. Try it out! The exercise really puts in perspective how much we take for granted.
- For example: In calculating the value for an 18" diameter Ponderosa Pine tree, it can be determined that just this one tree can eliminate up to 1,050 gallons of stormwater runoff annually! Check out the other tabs to find out about savings and benefits in energy efficiency and air quality.
Information like this can help change some of the perceptions that these trees are problematic or ineffective in our urban areas or undesirable to incorporate in new developments. These services provided by trees are often referred to as part of a municipality's "Green Infrastructure".
Take a look at the trees around and try out the National Tree Benefit Calculator or other calculators on the internet and learn about what your trees are providing you.
SPOKANE'S CURRENT TREE INVENTORY
The City of Spokane is working on a tree inventory of street trees and those in public properties such as parks. Similar to the tree calculator mentioned above, trees are inventoried individually to provide a detailed and specific account of what kind of benefits and dollar savings are provided. The program the city is working with, however, is much more detailed and provides a more specific picture of benefits than the more general calculator listed above. The program the City is using is TreeWorks.
This is a tedious process to get started but to get an idea of what can be learned, you can preview a list of the public trees inventoried in Spokane by the City Arborist and staff up to April of 2009:
Annual Benefits of Currently Inventoried Trees in Spokane
Annual Benefits of Trees in Spokane by Species - Notice the Ponderosa pines!
Population Summary of Currently Inventoried Trees in Spokane
For more information contact Kat Hall at khall@landscouncil.org or 509-209-2403.
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