Benefits of Trees
Each year, the trees in River Forest provide the municipality with approximately $1,000,000 worth of benefits according to iTreeTools. Trees are the lungs of the Earth. They provide habitat to most of the world’s species, clean our water, moderate our climate, provide sustenance, support jobs, and offer refuge and recreation.
Trees keep us cooler. A big shade tree can reduce the surrounding temperature by 10 to 15 degrees. Trees can reduce the urban “heat island effect” caused by heat stored in paving and masonry buildings.
Trees clean the air we breathe. Urban trees capture fine particles from the air as well as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, and other pollutants.
Trees reduce flooding by intercepting stormwater.
Trees are good for business. Research shows shoppers will travel farther to shop in tree-lined business districts.
Trees increase property values. Homes in neighborhoods with mature trees sell for 3.5% to 10% more than in neighborhoods without trees.
Big trees are worth more. Large, mature shade trees provide the lion’s share of benefits. It takes many years for a newly planted tree to provide the services of a big tree.
Trees together form a forest that needs our care. The trees in our village make up a vast, urban forest that is as important to our community infrastructure as the streets and sewers.
Resources for Tree Care
While the River Forest Public Works staff maintain all parkway trees throughout the Village, you can also help through the planting and maintenance of trees on your property. In addition to the MWRD's Restore Our Canopy Program, which offers free native Oak saplings, there are several resources available for tree species selection, tree care, and learning more about the benefits of trees on your property.
The Morton Arboretum's Northern Illinois Tree Species List provides a comprehensive overview of trees well-suited for the region. Information includes ideal planting sites, estimated mature height and width, light requirement, growth rate, as well as other considerations such as throns, fruit producing plants, resistence to diseases and pests, and overplanted species.
The U.S. Forest Service has a Tree Owner's Manual which provides tree care advice through the entire life cycle of the tree. Information in the manual ranges for preparation for planting, planting, maintenance schedules, instructions for watering, mulching, fertilizing, and pruning, and proper tree protection techniques
The iTreeTools MyTree app allows you to enter information about the trees on your property and receive free estimates on the carbon dioxide and air pollution they remove and the stormwater impact.