Pacific Southwest Research Station

Pacific Southwest Research Station
800 Buchanan Street
West Annex Building
Albany, CA 94710-0011

(510) 559-6300

Urban Ecosystems and Social Dynamics

Urban Ecosystems and Processes

A study of urban forests in Modesto, CA shows that for each $1 invested in urban forest management, $1.89 in benefits is returned to residents. City trees actually remove 154 tons of air pollutants, increase property values by over $1.5 million, and provide shade that saves over $1 million. This information convinced city officials to increase the tree budget and an electric utility company to invest $20,000 in developing the Modesto Tree Foundation.

FEATURED STUDY

Quantifying Benefits and Costs of Santa Monica's Urban Forest
The primary purpose of this study was to find out if the accrued benefits from Santa Monica's urban forest justify an annual municipal budget that exceeds $1.5 million. Results indicate that the benefits residents obtain from Santa Monica's urban forest exceed management costs by nearly $1 million. Santa Monica has invested millions of dollars in its municipal forest, and citizens are now receiving a relatively large return on that investment, such as increased property values, enhanced scenic beauty, air pollutant uptake, cooling and heating savings, lower summertime temperatures, and reduced stormwater retention.

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