An analysis of trees in Chicago, IL, reveals that the city has about 3,585,000 trees with canopies that cover 17.2 percent of the area. The most common tree species are white ash, mulberry species, green ash, and tree-of-heaven. Chicago's urban forest currently stores about 716,000 tons of carbon valued at $14.8 million. In addition, these trees remove about 25,200 tons of carbon per year ($521,000 per year) and about 888 tons of air pollution per year ($6.4 million per year). Trees in Chicago are estimated to reduce annual residential energy costs by $360,000 per year. The structural, or compensatory, value is estimated at $2.3 billion. Information on the structure and functions of the urban forest can be used to inform urban forest management programs and to integrate urban forests within plans to improve environmental quality in the Chicago area.

Trees in the Chicago regional forest can contribute significantly to human health and environmental quality. The urban forest resource comprises all trees, both within and outside forested stands. This can include boulevard trees, trees planted in parks, and trees that naturally occur in public rights-of-way, as well as trees planted on private or commercial properties. Relatively little is known about this forest resource, what it contributes to society and the economy, and the value of its contributions. This book focuses on the urban trees and forests in the Chicago region and assesses the effects and values of these forests.