New DNR Study Shows Hyattsville’s Trees Benefit The Bay, Save On Energy Bills And Mitigate Global Warming

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HYATTSVILLE, MD — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forest Service recently completed a study of Hyattsville’s 2,900 roadside trees. While the 2.5 sq. mile city has the potential for approximately 7,700 street trees, currently 4,800 potential planting sites remain empty.

"Trees not only mitigate greenhouse gases, improve stormwater quality, lower emissions by reducing energy use and improve air quality, but they do all of these things at the same time,” said Michael F. Galvin, DNR Urban Forestry Supervisor. “No other environmental mitigation device provides these multiple benefits, in addition to others like aesthetics and wildlife habitat. Improving the condition and extent of tree canopy in urban areas is vital to community livability as our cities grow."

The total annual value of benefits provided by the trees equals $281,389. Each individual tree contributes $96.30 in annual benefits and $18.53 in annual benefits per capita. The study found that Hyattsville’s roadside trees provide the many valuable ecosystem services to city residents including:

• Stormwater management control by intercepting 10.5 million gallons of rainfall annually at a value of $104,818;
• Energy savings by reducing the needs for heating and cooling by 310 MWh of electricity and 10,625 therms of natural gas annually at a value of $44,944;
• Annual sequestration and reduction of over 1.1 million pounds of carbon at a value of $8,428; and
• Air quality improvement by annual reduction of over 500 pounds of smog (ozone) and 500 pounds of soot (particulate matter) at a value of $2,706.

Eighty-six percent of Marylanders live in urban areas. Residents can help by planting trees and helping to maintain local trees by watering them and mulching around the base.

The study aims to help Hyattsville plan for future tree plantings and develop its Urban Tree Canopy Plan. DNR utilized the USDA Forest Service iTREE software to complete the study.

Click here to view the full report.

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October 29, 2007

Contact: Olivia Campbell 410-260-8016 office I 410-507-7525 cell ocampbell@dnr.state.md.us

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 449,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov