Benefits of Urban Forests and Determining Their Value

Urban forests are often overlooked as they are “hidden in plain sight.” Urban forests and the services they provide can be vague concepts. This article gives a definition of urban forests, detailing their functional and structural values. Terminology associated with both terms and determining valuation of the benefits is provided. Quantitative information on these benefits helps land-use planners, local governments, and decision-makers see the contributions often overlooked in urban forests and can help plan on where to continue to plant trees within a complex urban environment