How Urban Residents Rate and Rank the Benefits and Problems Associated with Trees in Cities

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 b 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 more highly than those who did not strongly agree. Responses varied slightly based on demographic factors. The general public in urban areas, not just people who volunteer for tree programs, felt very positively toward trees in cities.

Keywords: Social Issues,Urban and Community Forestry,Urban Forestry Benefits

Publisher: Virginia I. Lohr, Caroline H. Pearson-Mims, John Tarnai, and Don A. Dillman

Category: Urban Forestry Benefits