Tree benefits, forest ecology and fun facts
Trees are beneficial for a number of reasons. Not only do they serve as habitat for wildlife, they also increase property values, filter air and water, conserve energy and have even been shown to reduce stress.
Trees increase property values
“A mature tree can often have an appraised value of between $1,000 and $10,000.”
—Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers
“In one study, 83% of realtors believe that mature trees have a ‘strong or moderate impact’ on the salability of homes listed for under $150,000; on homes over $250,000, this perception increases to 98%.””
—Arbor National Mortgage & American Forests
“Landscaping, especially with trees, can increase property values as much as 20 percent.”
—Management Information Services/ICMA
“Nationally, the 60 million street trees have an average value of $525 per tree.”
—Management Information Services
- Read the Minnesota Conservation Volunteer article “Green as money: Urban trees are good investments” to learn more about the value of the trees in your yard
- Learn about planting right for future high-value trees
Trees improve air and water quality
“Trees improve water quality by slowing and filtering rain water, as well as protecting aquifers and watersheds.”
—USDA Forest Service
“One acre of forest absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide and puts out four tons of oxygen. This is enough to meet the annual needs of 18 people.”
—U.S. Department of Agriculture
“The planting of trees means improved water quality, resulting in less runoff and erosion. This allows more recharging of the ground water supply. Wooded areas help prevent the transport of sediment and chemicals into streams.”
—USDA Forest Service
- Calculate your carbon footprint to determine how many trees should be planted to offset your emissions
- Read the article “Working trees for water quality” to learn how planting the right tree in the right place can improve water quality
Trees can be planted for energy savings
“Landscaping can reduce air conditioning costs by up to 50 percent, by shading the windows and walls of a home.”
—American Public Power Association
“If you plant a tree today on the west side of your home, in 5 years your energy bills should be 3% less. In 15 years the savings will be nearly 12%.”
—Dr. E. Greg McPherson, Center for Urban Forest Research
“The net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to ten room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day.”
—U.S. Department of Agriculture
“Trees properly placed around buildings can reduce air conditioning needs by 30 percent and can save 20–50 percent in energy used for heating.
—USDA Forest Service
- Minnetonka Memo article “Conserve energy and money: plant trees”
- Minnesota DNR article: Energy conservation through trees
Other interesting facts about trees
“In laboratory research, visual exposure to settings with trees has produced significant recovery from stress within five minutes, as indicated by changes in blood pressure and muscle tension.”
—Dr. Roger S. Ulrich Texas A&M University
“Trees can be a stimulus to economic development, attracting new business and tourism. Commercial retail areas are more attractive to shoppers, apartments rent more quickly, tenants stay longer, and space in a wooded setting is more valuable to sell or rent.”
—The Arbor Day Foundation
“Over a 50-year lifetime, a tree generates $31,250 worth of oxygen, provides $62,000 worth of air pollution control, recycles $37,500 worth of water, and controls $31,250 worth of soil erosion.”
—USDA Forest Service
“Trees reduce noise pollution by acting as a buffer and absorbing 50% of urban noise.”
—US Department of Energy
- Read more about the social, communal, environmental, and economic benefits of trees
- Learn fun facts about tree biology, trees and the environment, and “moon trees”
- Nominate a big tree in Minnetonka to be added to the city’s big tree register
A new tree in Glen Moor Park filters air and water.
