Roundup Record Tribune & Winnett Times -

Article submitted by Tree Board

Most of us know we enjoy our trees, and the past few weeks we've discussed their impact on our physical and mental health. However, have we ever considered the financial aspects of a healthy urban forest?

Roundup has approximately 1535 trees in "public places"*. The calculated annual financial and ecological benefits of those trees are as follows: (1)

* Greenhouse Benefits = $4,112.53

(310,593.63# carbon dioxide)

* Water Benefits = $24,206.54

(2,241,346.73 gallons saved)

* Energy Benefits = $29,838.62

(202,742.64 kwh saved,

18,689.91 Therms saved)

* Air Quality Benefits = $3,057.56

(1,175.46# pollutants saved)

* Property Benefits = $227,843.50**

Trees also translate to dollars in the value of our homes. This increase in value varies from 3.5% to 27%. (11) Potential home buyers are more likely to view and consider purchasing and even paying more for a home that is advertised as having "mature landscaping", "shaded patio", etc. than a home with little to no landscaping.

Bev Eiselein

In addition to the above calculable values, what about those not so easily determine? How can we place a value on a shady spot for a picnic or family reunion? How do we feel when a large, beautiful tree is destroyed in a violent storm or one of our lovely Main Street trees is damaged by a careless driver or vandalism?

Thus, we can easily see that a healthy urban forest not only affects our physical and mental health but also our pocketbooks!

*Does not include trees on private property

(1) MT. Dept of Natural Resources and Conservation, Davey Resources Group

**These numbers would be higher but for the fact of Roundup's aging urban forest and therefore, its general condition. The City of Roundup and the Tree Board are committed to improve these numbers.

(11) Tree City USA Bulletin No. 28

The Tree Board's third article focuses on the value of trees in the community.