Comments on Benefirts of Urban Trees and Trees as Capital Assets

Comments on Benefits of Urban Trees:
This article outlines the importance of trees in cities. Trees are projected as indispensable to humankind, since they provide many benefits such as improving air quality, reducing storm water runoff and erosion, modifying local climates, conserving energy, being beneficial for the economy, creating a habitat for plants and animals, improving health, serving as screens, and promoting community. The question asked behind the scenes is: what would happen if trees were not present? How would our world be? Trees in this article are, as already mentioned before, portrayed as necessary to mankind. The United States Department of Agriculture relates trees with many aspects that make up a society (which are sometimes taken for granted) and that are necessary to keep a society working. For example, by stating that trees improve air quality, USDA concludes that if trees did not exist, we would have shorter life spans (if any) since everybody needs air to live, right! By stating that trees are beneficial for the economy, the USDA states that without trees, the economy would be less profitable, since trees add beauty and therefore, another reason why something, such as houses surrounded by trees, should be bought (one of the thresholds of economy). Finally, by stating that trees improve health it is being stated that if you keep trees around, you will be happier. And let’s not forget that trees promote community….indeed. Everyone likes to gather, once in a while, around or near trees. After declaring and proving how trees are necessary in every society, the USDA provides solutions on how “you” can promote urban tree conservation.

Comments on Trees as Capital Assets:
This article talks about green infrastructure. After pointing out that urban forest managers are aware of the importance of trees in urban areas, this article goes into some detail by talking about how economy, capital laws, investment, and governmental rules can work towards creating an urban and green infrastructure. It points out that these types of projects sometimes involve passing debts from generation to generation. The process may seem complicated for someone not familiar with the methods and how urban forestry management programs work, but in reality, it may become a simple process for someone with experience in this area. It is a matter of understanding how economy works, and how ones understanding of urban forestry can be applied to the political and economic rules.