Tree Appraisals in Urban and Rural Settings

Jeff Heintz

Assistant City Forester – Bismarck

Private Forestry Consultant

Do trees have a value?

Reasons for tree appraisal

Settlement for damage or death of plants through litigation

Insurance claims or direct payment Loss of property value for income tax deductions Real estate assessment purposes Agency budget justification Condemnation proceedings Sale of nursery property Establishing values of plants that may be damaged

during construction

History of Plant Appraisal

Bible – 1st recorded documentation of and effort to place a value on a tree.

1901 Univ. of Mich. - $5 + compound interest at 5% for 25 years.

1900’s Univ. of Mass – Dr. George T. Stone – calculate tree values based on their size, location and condition.

1930’s Dr. E.P. Felt, director of Bartlett Tree Research Lab further refined Dr. Stones technique. This method considered species and residential land values in addition to size, condition and location.

Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers Guide for Plant Appraisal

1947 – National Shade Tree Conf. and National Arborist Assoc. (NAA) form joint committee

1957 – Shade Tree Evaluation published 1970’s – Two revisions incorporated a location factor

and a replacement method. Species lists were dropped and inform. on Internal Revenue Service regs. and insurance coverage was added.

1975 – CTLA established

Factors in Appraisal

Size Species Condition Location – Site/Contribution/Placement

Size

Trees are most commonly expressed by their height or trunk diameter.

Shrubs or small conifers described by height or branch spread.

Nursery plants, size is indicated by trunk diameter, height, branch spread or the size of the container.

Size measured as Trunk Diameter

Trunk diam. less than or equal to 4 inches, measure at 6 inches above ground.

Trees larger than 4 in. diameter, yet a transplantable size, are measured at 12 inches above ground.

Trees to large to transplant are measured at 4.5 ft above ground.

Species

Ratings vary geographically Judged by aesthetics and general

functional value, climatic and soil tolerances, resistance to insects and diseases, growth characteristics, maintenance requirements and allergenic properties.

NDUCFA developed ratings for ND

Condition

Structural Integrity Plant Health

Location

Site

Location

Site Contribution

Location

Site Contribution Placement

Location

Site Contribution Placement

Methods of Appraisal

Replacement method Cost of Cure / Cost of Repair Trunk Formula method