Tree Appraisals in Urban and Rural Settings Jeff Heintz Assistant City Forester – Bismarck Private Forestry Consultant

Do trees have a value?

Reasons for tree appraisal  Settlement for damage or death of plants through litigation  Insurance claims or direct payment  Loss of property value for income tax deductions  Real estate assessment purposes  Agency budget justification  Condemnation proceedings  Sale of nursery property  Establishing values of plants that may be damaged during construction

History of Plant Appraisal Bible – 1 st recorded documentation of and effort to place a value on a tree Univ. of Mich. - $5 + compound interest at 5% for 25 years. 1900’s Univ. of Mass – Dr. George T. Stone – calculate tree values based on their size, location and condition. 1930’s Dr. E.P. Felt, director of Bartlett Tree Research Lab further refined Dr. Stones technique. This method considered species and residential land values in addition to size, condition and location.

Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers Guide for Plant Appraisal 1947 – National Shade Tree Conf. and National Arborist Assoc. (NAA) form joint committee 1957 – Shade Tree Evaluation published 1970’s – Two revisions incorporated a location factor and a replacement method. Species lists were dropped and inform. on Internal Revenue Service regs. and insurance coverage was added – CTLA established

Factors in Appraisal Size Species Condition Location – Site/Contribution/Placement

Size Trees are most commonly expressed by their height or trunk diameter. Shrubs or small conifers described by height or branch spread. Nursery plants, size is indicated by trunk diameter, height, branch spread or the size of the container.

Size measured as Trunk Diameter Trunk diam. less than or equal to 4 inches, measure at 6 inches above ground. Trees larger than 4 in. diameter, yet a transplantable size, are measured at 12 inches above ground. Trees to large to transplant are measured at 4.5 ft above ground.

Species Ratings vary geographically Judged by aesthetics and general functional value, climatic and soil tolerances, resistance to insects and diseases, growth characteristics, maintenance requirements and allergenic properties. NDUCFA developed ratings for ND

Condition Structural Integrity Plant Health

Location Site

Location Site Contribution

Location Site Contribution Placement

Location Site Contribution Placement

Methods of Appraisal Replacement method Cost of Cure / Cost of Repair Trunk Formula method