In 1991, American Forests (formerly known as the American Forestry Association) conducted a follow-up survey of 20 cities. The findings revealed the continued decline of city street trees, including the alarming statistic that the average life of a downtown street tree is just 13 years.
"People used to overlook trees in cities," said (Fiona Watt, chief of forestry and horticulture for the New York Department of Parks and Recreation). "They're now viewed as increasingly important because of the work of scientists who've helped us quantify those benefits. The environmental benefits and property value benefits are quantifiable, but the social ones are harder. They make us feel good, they improve our moods, they make neighborhoods more beautiful.
"Tree canopies can make neighborhoods more cohesive and bring people together, bonding them over this common resource," she said.
The fruit of the team's work may not be visible yet, but it will be eventually. In the world of forestry, there's an old proverb: "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next-best time is today."
