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.

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. (Imprint: Nova)

An analysis of trees in the Chicago region of Illinois reveals that this area has about 157,142,000 trees with tree and shrub canopy that covers 21.0 percent of the region. The most common tree species are European buckthorn, green ash, boxelder, black cherry, and American elm. Trees in the Chicago region currently store about 16.9 million tons of carbon (61.9 million tons CO2) valued at $349 million. In addition, these trees remove about 677,000 tons of carbon per year (2.5 million tons CO2/year) ($14.0 million/year) and about 18,080 tons of air pollution per year ($137 million/year). Chicago's regional forest is estimated to reduce annual residential energy costs by $44.0 million/year. The compensatory value of the trees is estimated at $51.2 billion. Various invasive species, insects and diseases, and lack of adequate regeneration of certain species currently threaten to change the extent and composition of this forest. Information on the structure and functions of the regional forest can be used to inform forest management programs and to integrate forests into plans to improve environmental quality in the Chicago region. These findings can be used to improve and augment support for urban forest management programs and to integrate urban forests within plans to improve environmental quality in the Chicago region.

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.

Case study of Chicago's tree debris disposal and utilization experiences.