Trees and Real Estate Values

Urban forests makes cities more liveable in the following ways:

Came across a great website in that highlights the obvious benefits (shamelessly copied and pasted)


Environmental Benefits

• Moderate temperature of road surface increasing their life span
• Reduction of air pollutants
• Urban Forests Protect Our Water
• Urban Forests Can Increase Traffic Safety

Sociological Benefits

• Trees have the potential to reduce social service budgets, decrease police calls for domestic violence, strengthen urban communities, and decrease the incidence of child abuse according to the study.
• Residents who live near trees have significantly better relations with and stronger ties to their neighbors.
• Researchers found fewer reports of physical violence in homes that had trees outside the buildings. Of the residents interviewed, 14% of residents living in barren conditions have threatened to use a knife or gun against their children versus 3% for the residents living in green conditions.
• Studies have shown that hospital patients with a view of trees out their windows recover much faster and with fewer complications than similar patients without such views.
• A Texas A&M study indicates that trees help create relaxation and well being.

• A U.S. Department of Energy study reports that trees reduce noise pollution by acting as a buffer and absorbing 50% of urban noise.

Real Estate Benefits:

• Trees can increase property values 5%-15% (Adding and maintaining trees - especially if Mature - are expensive. So a sustainable way must be found)

Environmental Vision for Toronto

• Lake Ontario Park - One of the Largest Urban Parks in North America to be built in Toronto
• Will Silva Cells help improve Toronto's urban forest? - Great article on seeing how Toronto is moving forward. Concepts that show trees on Bloor between Avenue and Church really looks great.
• Money does grow on trees -The reasons for planting a canopy overshadow today’s trend toward tiny trees. 109,000 to 110,000 trees are planted a year in Toronto. Today the canopy covers 20 per cent of the city; the goal is 30 to 40 per cent coverage.