Let's Talk Trees
Trees are important. I'm sure you already have that figured out by now, so we won't say it again. Instead, we will tell you why. Yes, they supply oxygen to the planet and foster the very essence of life, but they can do much more for you than that. Trees provide several ecosystem services to towns and residential areas which constitute improved air and water quality, efficient temperature and energy-use regulation, and economic, social, and psychological benefits.
Temperature and Energy Use
Especially here on the Treasure Coast, temperatures can be brutal. Without A/C, Florida would be practically uninhabitable. Yet, A/C is far from free. Hourly, monthly, and annual costs for air conditioning in the South Florida area can vary based on square footage of the home, size of the unit, and ratings of efficiency—yet if you have lived here long enough, I guarantee someone has told you to turn up the thermostat to cut the bill at least once. According to Florida Power and Light (FPL), annual prices can range from $417 to $2,087 when considering these varying criteria. However, the presence of deciduous trees on a property can actually mitigate A/C costs through the shade they provide. Research conducted by Dr. Kim D. Coder, a professor of tree biology and health care at the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, suggested that on average homes with trees saved $242 per year in cooling costs alone.
Improved Air and Water Quality
Within Dr. Coder's study, she analyzed the extent to which trees control airborne pollutants and toxic heavy metals. They work towards mitigating levels of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ozone, and PM 10 (particulate matter less than 10 microns which irritates the eyes, nose, and lungs). They also remove cadmium, chromium, nickel, and lead from the environment.
In terms of water quality, trees act as natural filters. By removing nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from runoff through root absorption, trees attenuate the harmful effects of eutrophication. Eutrophication is a positive feedback loop involving the process of excess nutrients spurring algal blooms. This overabundance of algae coats the surface of water bodies, blocking sunlight for photosynthetic plants underneath. This aquatic vegetation then begins to die, while decomposers (such as bacteria) thrive on the plethora of dead organic matter. With these decomposers using up all the dissolved oxygen in the water, it leaves very little for other underwater wildlife which begin to suffocate. Eventually, areas which experience eutrophication become "dead zones" or hypoxic (without oxygen).
Eutrophication can prevent tourism, commercial fishing, and recreational fishing. With these sectors comprising a significant portion of many communities' economies across the Treasure Coast, it tapers town revenue and curtails individual income. The thick, green algae which smothers the surface of the would-be crystal-blue waters can also prevent us beach-goers from swimming or boating.
Thankfully, because trees are able to take in the nutrients carried by runoff and filter the water which enters oceans, lakes, and rivers, the threat of eutrophication can be diluted. Especially for homes on or near the water, trees have a significant impact in shielding our waterways when on such properties
Aesthetics
Perhaps one of the most apparent services trees provide falls down to their aesthetic appeal. From Oleander to Oak, trees add undeniably handsome ornamental value to whichever areas they inhabit.
Property Value
As a direct product of these many benefits, trees allocate ample individual opportunity to not only save money, but create it. According to Public Works and Environmental Services, a government site, "healthy, mature trees add an average of 10 percent to a property's value and landscaping with trees can increase property values as much as 20 percent." In subsequence with this data, the Pacific Northwest Research Station conducted a study in Portland, Oregon, and found that a tree in front of a house increased the house's sale price by an average of $7,130 and sold faster on the market by 1.7 days. Closer to home, Geoffrey H. Donovan, Shawn Landry, and Cody Winter examined the relationship between trees and the sales price of single family homes in Tampa. They discovered that trees within 152 meters (500 feet) of a house's lot significantly raised sales prices by $9,271-$9,836. Furthermore, neighboring houses are positively impacted by the presence of trees on other properties, leading to a consequent upscale in street values which ultimately bolsters town outturn and worth. For all intents and purposes, money does indeed grow on trees.
Works Cited
Donovan, Geoffrey H., et al. “Urban Trees, House Price, and Redevelopment Pressure in Tampa, Florida.” Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, vol. 38, Feb. 2019, pp. 330–336, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2019.01.014. Accessed 20 Feb. 2020.
