Capitalization of urban tree cover: An internal meta-analysis

Shyamani D. Siriwardena, Kevin J. Boyle and Thomas P. Holmes

Ecological Economics, 2025, vol. 238, issue C

Abstract: Hedonic studies of residential tree cover vary spatially due to differences in data and estimation methods, which make it difficult to generalize whether there are differences in preferences, local environmental conditions or differences in data and estimation approaches. We conduct hedonic analyses of tree cover in multiple U.S. cities using consistent spatial data and estimation methods and summarize results via an internal meta-analysis. Study results provide robust evidence for spatially varying preferences for tree cover in urban areas. The results indicate that homeowners place more value on tree cover that is located on properties more than 0.1 km from their homes than tree cover on or near their own properties, within 0.1 km. This poses important community challenges in the public provision of tree cover, which can result in under investment in tree cover at the individual property level. This preference dichotomy can influence community support regarding tree removal and planting policies. The results suggest that areas with more rainfall and higher temperatures are less likely to have positive tree-cover capitalization in property prices. This is an important consideration as climate change brings higher temperatures and more severe storms that pose greater risks of forest fires and falling limbs/trees that can affect residential properties.

Keywords: Hedonic valuation; Urban tree cover; Marginal value; Internal meta-analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:238:y:2025:i:c:s0921800925001922

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2025.108709

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