Understanding the Benefits and Costs of Urban Forest Ecosystems

Abstract

One of the first considerations in developing a strong and comprehensive urban forestry program is determining the desired outcomes from managing vegetation in cities. Urban trees can provide a wide range of benefits to the urban environment and well-being of people. However, there are also a wide range of potential costs and as with all ecosystems, numerous interactions that must be understood if one is to opti- mize the net benefits from urban vegetation. Inadequate understanding of the wide range of benefits, costs, and expected outcomes of urban vegetation management options, as well as interactions among them, may drastically reduce the contribution of vegetation toward improving urban environments and quality of life. By altering the type and arrangement of trees in a city (i.e., the urban forest struc- ture), one can affect the city’s physical, biological, and socioeconomic environments. Management plans can be developed and implemented to address specific problems within cities. Although trees can provide multiple benefits at one site, not all benefits can necessarily be realized in each location. Individual management plans should focus on optimizing, in a particular area, the mix of benefits that are most important.