New research quantifies the economic benefits of urban trees:
Every tree in urban Tennessee provides an estimated $2.25 worth of measurable economic benefits every year. Might not seem like a lot, but with 284 million urban trees in the state, the payoff's pretty big. Through energy savings, air and water filtering and carbon storage, the urban trees of Tennessee account for more than $638 million in benefits, according to a report [PDF] conducted by the Forest Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and released earlier this year.
The biggest savings are attributed to carbon storage, which the authors of the report value at an estimated $350 million. … The trees are credited with removing 27,100 tons of pollutants each year, including ozone, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide. And because of the shading they provide, these urban trees are credited with saving about $66 million in energy costs annually.
Brad Plumer also points to the effect of trees on city home values.
(Photo: Cherry blossoms in full bloom on trees around the Tidal Basin March 22, 2012 in Washington, DC. By Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images)
The Dish 