21
TABLE 6: Lowest Performing Street Tree Species
Eastern redbuds have a short lifespan, and have more trees in fair condition than good, and the highest percentage of very poor. Zelkovas are reported susceptible to Dutch elm disease and bacterial canker. Many trees were observed in very poor condition; if one tree contracts Dutch elm disease, then it could be spread to nearby trees. Because this disease can also be spread by pruning equipment, it is important to have all pruning done by qualified staff.
SPECIES
% IN “GOOD” CONDITION
TREES INVEN- TORIED
Eastern redbud
27%
15
Japanese zelkova
40%
15
Red and Freeman maple Ornamental cherry (multiple species)
43%
95
61%
49
Value and Benefits of Street Trees
Replacement Value Wake Forest’s street trees have a financial value that can be calculated using industry accepted formulas, applied using the peer-reviewed iTree Streets program. These values are commonly used in legal cases, insurance claims, and in estimating the damage caused by storms and other disasters. The value of a tree is dependent on its species, condition, location, and size. These values may range from a few hundred dollars for a young tree to tens of thousands for a large, healthy tree of a desirable species (Figure 15). Because value is directly related to size, young trees can gain hundreds or thousands of dollars worth of value within years. To maximize the value of the town’s street trees, it is important to provide care for trees of all sizes.
} The current replacement value of the street tree population is approximately $16.9 million.
Replacement Value by Species More than a quarter of the value of the town’s street trees is in red oaks, with most of that
value concentrated in willow oaks (Table 7). Other species, including white oaks, loblolly pines, and the combination of red and Freeman maples, are each estimated to have a replacement value of more than $1 million. These values indicate the potential loss due to pests and disease, and un- derscore the need to plant a wider range of species.
FIGURE 11 : Average Tree Replacement Value by Diameter
$0 $5,000 $10,000 $15,000 $20,000 $25,000 $30,000 $35,000 $40,000
0-3
3-6 6-12
12-18
18-24
24-30
30-36
36-42
>42
Diameter in Inches
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