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Title: Assessing urban forest effects and values, Scranton's urban forest
Author: Nowak, David J.; Hoehn, Robert E. III; Crane, Daniel E.; Stevens, Jack C.; Cotrone, Vincent.
Publication: Resour. Bull. NRS-43. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 23 p.
Key Words: urban forestry, ecosystem services, air pollution removal, carbon sequestration, tree value
Abstract: An analysis of trees in the urbanized portion of Scranton, PA, reveals that this area has about 1.2 million trees with canopies that cover 22.0 percent of the area. The most common tree species are red maple, gray birch, black cherry, northern red oak, and quaking aspen. Scranton's urban forest currently store about 93,300 tons of carbon valued at $1.9 million. In addition, these trees remove about 4,000 tons of carbon per year ($83,000 per year) and about 65 tons of air pollution per year ($514,000 per year). Trees in urban Scranton are estimated to reduce annual residential energy costs by $628,000 per year. The structural, or compensatory, value is estimated at $322 million. Information on the structure and functions of the urban forest can be used to inform urban forest management programs and to integrate urban forests within plans to improve environmental quality in the Scranton area.
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