I have been approached by an attorney and asked to prepare an appraisal of trees to be removed from a property so that a Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) pipeline can be installed. The easement will be 75 feet wide and cut through about 600 feet of the property (1.03 Ac). The property is utilized as a horse breeding farm and contained pasture and paddocks, but also a significant forested area. It appears that two Paulownia trees located in the pasture will be lost to the excavation, and certainly the CTLA Trunk Replacement Method for the 20" diameter trees is appropriate. What I am struggling with is appraising the forested section. The total area of forest is about .50 acre and consists of mixed hardwoods (Tulip Poplar, Sweetgum, Red Maple) along with some understory evergreens (American Holly). Tree sizes range from 1/2" diameter to 36" diameter and the number of trees probably ranges between 350-500 trees. The LNG company hired a forester who appraised all of the trees (even the two Paulownia) as pulp wood. I believe that his total appraisal was in the vicinity of $700.00. Obviouisly, the two Paulownia trees alone are worth way more than that. Does anyone have a suggestion on which method is the most suitable for the trees, large and small, in the native forested area? The property is located within an Agricultural Preservation Easement, which allows timbering of forest, but the property has expressed no desire to timber the forest and instead prefers to retain them for wooded horse riding trails.

Hi Kevin,

I see you don't have an answer yet. You might want to ask at these sites as there are several certified arborists that answer questions there.
http://www.treehelp.com/forum/forum/default.asp
http://www.arboristsite.com/
http://www.forestryforum.com/board/index.php?PHPSESSID=...f8cef8d409461d1b19e&

This site from The Society of Municipal Arborists has an E-list. You have to join and submit your question and wait for an answer.
http://www.urban-forestry.com/mc/page.do?sitePageId=1946

Maybe the Mid-Atlantic chapter of ISA could help.
http://www.mac-isa.org/

Good luck!
Newt

Thanks Newt! I'll look into those links.

Kevin, you are very welcome! If any are helpful I'd love to know so I can help others who might have a similar situation.

Newt

Kevin, I just found this site and thought of you. I hope it helps.
http://www.okstate.edu/ag/agedcm4h/pearl/hort/ornament/f6416.htm

Newt