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