How cities measure the value of urban trees and their impact on health and the environment
This book explains the Urban Forest Effects (UFORE) model and how it helps communities understand the urban forest resource. It also shows how data on trees can guide policies, planning, and management to enhance environmental quality in cities.
Using a Minneapolis case study from a summer 2004 assessment, the work demonstrates how field plots and the UFORE method quantify forest structure, functions, and values. It covers the kinds of data collected, how carbon storage and sequestration are estimated, and how pollution removal and energy use relate to urban trees.
- Learn how urban forest structure is defined (species mix, tree density, health, leaf area, biomass, diversity) and how these pieces drive environmental benefits.
- See which functions trees provide (air pollution removal, cooler local temperatures, energy savings, water quality, aesthetics, and well‑being) and how they’re measured.
- Explore how economic values are assigned to forest functions, including carbon storage, sequestration, and pollution relief.
- Understand the data and methods behind assessing insect and disease risk and how these influence long‑term planning.
Ideal for readers involved in city planning, environmental policy, and urban forestry research, as well as students evaluating how urban trees translate into real-world benefits.