Big trees are special. They provide a wealth of benefits to that truly benefit the public. They shade houses and block the wind. They increase a home’s value and capture pollution. Plus, they absorb traffic noise and prevent soil erosion.
Emerald Ash Tree
If they’re in a back yard, big trees can even provide playgrounds for children living on the property. As these trees grow older, they provide even more benefits. R.I. Tree highlights the state’s big trees with its Helen Walker Raleigh Champion Tree Registry.
Research shows that the benefits derived from a large tree far outweigh the costs of caring for them—sometimes by as much as eight to one. In most communities in the U.S., big trees cost as little as $13 per year.
Each big tree, on the other hand, returns an average of $65 in energy savings, cleaner air, better-managed stormwater, extended life of programs, and higher property values. Given these figures, urban communities afford not to invest in large trees.
When it comes to trees, size does matter.
