Austin's Urban Forest, 2014
| Authors: | David J. Nowak, Allison R. Bodine, Robert E. Hoehn, Christopher B. Edgar, Dudley R. Hartel, Tonya W. Lister, Thomas J. Brandeis |
| Year: | 2016 |
| Type: | Resource Bulletin |
| Station: | Northern Research Station |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.2737/NRS-RB-100 |
| Source: | Resource Bulletin NRS-100. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 55 p. http://dx.doi.org/10.2737/NRS-RB-100 |
Abstract
An analysis of the urban forest in Austin, Texas, reveals that this area has an estimated 33.8 million trees with tree canopy that covers 30.8 percent of the city. The most common tree species are Ashe juniper, cedar elm, live oak, sugarberry, and Texas persimmon. Trees in Austin currently store about 1.9 million tons of carbon (7.0 million tons of carbon dioxide [CO2]); such storage is valued at $242.0 million. In addition, these trees remove about 92,000 tons of carbon per year (336,000 tons CO2/year) ($11.6 million per year) and about 1,253 tons of air pollution per year ($2.8 million per year). Austin's urban forest is estimated to reduce annual residential energy costs by $18.9 million per year. The compensatory value of the trees is estimated at $16.0 billion. The information presented in this report can be used to improve and augment support for urban forest management programs and to inform policy and planning to improve environmental quality and human health in Austin. The analysis also provides a basis for monitoring changes in the urban forest over time.
Appendices can be found online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/nrs/pubs/download/rb_nrs100-appendixes.pdf
Data in Table 20, pages 4-5 of the Appendix resource file, was corrected on 01-21-2020.