State Urban Forestry Coordinator's Newsletter
March, 2001 Vol.6 No.3

http://www.treelink.org/nasf/scnn6_3.phtml

"Of What Value Is a Tree?"

"In August 1994, exercising lawful authority to promulgate rules and regulations, the New York City Parks Department required the number of compensatory trees be computed based on a "Basal Area Replacement Formula." The policy requires the number of compensatory trees be equal to the woody area of the destroyed tree(s) measured at breast height. The value of 16 four-inch replacement trees was to be assessed for each 12" dbh tree to be cut down. Thus, in some instances, the commissioner was demanding tens of thousands of dollars to remove a single tree. In Borough Park, New York City, a homeowner was told that it would cost $42,000 to remove a mature tree, which was in the way of his proposed driveway."

"The law passed this month by a Council committee starts with basal area. But, the condition of a tree is then factored in, lowering the value. Much like a work of fine art, the TRUE value of a tree is difficult to quantify. (It is the crown of the tree and not the trunk that provides much of its value.) Nonetheless, the arboriculture community has wrestled with this issue and provided guidelines that are generally accepted. The new law will move New York City closer to those accepted standards."

It is unclear from this language if this "law" has merely cleared committee or is fully enacted.