How urban residents rate and rank the benefits and problems associated with trees in cities

Abstract

Residents of the largest metropolitan areas in the continental United States were surveyed about the benefits and problems of trees in urban areas. The public rated the social, environmental, and practical benefits of trees highly. The ability of trees to shade and cool surroundings was the highest-ranked benefit. Their potential to help people feel calmer was ranked second highest. Potential problems with trees were not considered to be reasons not to use trees. Practical problems, such as causing allergies, were bigger concerns than were financial issues. People who strongly agreed that trees were important to their quality of life rated the benefits of trees more highly than people who did not strongly agree. Those who strongly agreed and those who did not strongly agree ranked the benefits and problems similarly. Responses varied slightly based on demographic factors. For example, those who did not strongly agree that trees were important to life quality were more likely than expected to be 18 to 21 years old or to earn US$20,000 or less per year. The general public in urban areas, not just people who volunteer for tree programs, felt very positively toward trees in cities.