A Policy Evaluation of Planting Street Trees in Morgantown, West Virginia: A Spatial and Benefit-Cost Analysis GIS Conference and Workshop 2004 Vishakha Maskey Graduate Research Assistant Division of Resource Management

Background Information: Urban Forests –Street trees, trees on the private property, and parks Street Trees –Trees that are publicly owned –Are within 6 feet of the road

Overview of Tree Benefits: Ecological and Health Benefits through: Air pollution removal Carbon reduction, Oxygen production Biodiversity maintenance Stormwater management

Benefits cont. Social and Economic Benefits through: Increase in aesthetic value (property prices) Replacement value Psychological value Lower crime rate Traffic safety

Overview of Tree Costs: Social/Economic Cost Sidewalk and property damage Maintenance cost Planting and replacement cost Pollen allergies Ecological cost Hydrocarbon production Water consumption Displacement of native species

Problem Statement: Increased development and population pressure Decreasing tree cover Lack of planting and proper maintenance initiative due to unobserved benefits in the market Investment decisions dependent upon costs of implementation

Why Morgantown, West Virginia? Decreasing aesthetics of the city Air quality problems Initiatives from different governmental and non- governmental sectors Many plantable spaces that need cost- effective decision on plantings

Objective of the Research: Develop an infrastructure for planting street trees; Facilitate decisions on future plantings with reliable monetary information on costs and benefits; Generate a valid argument on planting decision.

Conceptual Framework: Costs -Infrastructure - Planting -Maintenance -Removal Benefits Energy savings Pollution control Runoff Control Carbon Dioxide Water Conserved Benefit-Cost Analysis Net Benefits B/C Ratios IRR Tree number

Research Method Application: Spatial Analysis to develop infrastructure Benefit- Cost analysis to facilitate policy decisions

Spatial Analysis: Categorized all streets in Morgantown into suitability Index with respect to soil type, slope and land cover: –Most suitable –Moderately suitable –Unsuitable

Benefit-Cost Analysis Methodology: NPV= –Where NPV = Net Present Value, Years (t) = 0 …….40 –Discount Rate (i) = 7 %, –B = Total Benefit –C = Total Cost

Benefit and Costs Per Year: Air Quality Benefits = $16 per tree Stormwater runoff reduction = $6.76 per tree Carbon dioxide reduction = $5 per tree Aesthetic Benefit = $17 per tree Energy Savings =$10 per tree These estimates are lower bound of previous researches done my McPherson in California. Fixed costs –Planting Costs =$500 per tree –Sidewalk and Curb Cost =$1,127 which includes equipment, material and labor cost Variable cost –Maintenance Costs = $9.61 per tree Cost estimates are from Mr. Bill Rumble (City of Morgantown) and Dr. Cummings (Morgantown Tree Board)

Estimates: The net benefit per tree = $ Benefit-cost ratio = 2.25:1 Net Present Value (NPV) of $20, IRR (Internal Rate of Return) of 12%.

Conclusions: The accounting of benefit and costs of planting 20 new trees seems feasible; Positive net benefit should serve as argument for funding; The costs and benefits are dynamic and projections may not be accurate.

Policy Recommendation: Better City ordinance Subsidies or payment for maintenance and replacement Incorporating Citizen forester program –Training and information More reliable benefit quantification required using computer based programs such as STRATUM, which quantifies benefits of street trees.

Thank you for your attention!