Seattle'S ForeSt ecoSyStem ValueS - Forterra

Replacement Value
Infrastructure systems are essential for supporting human
health and well-being in cities. While grey infrastructure is
made up of drains, pipes, and wires that deliver water and
energy and carry away waste, trees and vegetation make up
a green infrastructure. This report demonstrates that the urban
forest in Seattle is part of a green infrastructure system
that works to provide a wide array of services and benefits.
To get a sense of the costs to reestablish Seattle’s urban forest,
i-Tree Eco estimates the replacement value. This equates
to the cost of physically replanting trees and nurturing them
to the size and extent of Seattle’s current forest.
The replacement value of Seattle’s current urban
forest is estimated to be $4.99 billion dollars.
This value is estimated using methods established by the
Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers. Much like houses
can be appraised, the replacement value of trees can be assessed.
Field-collected size, species, condition, and location
data, as well as literature-based replacement costs, transplantable
size information, and local species factors are
used in this estimate.
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