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Environmental Benefits

Trees are very important to us at UA Fort Smith both aesthetically and economically. In addition to their beauty, direct benefits are usually associated with energy costs.

Using the International Society of Arboriculture's tree valuation equation, the University's campus trees at the time of our initial inventory (some 950 trees) were valued at over $2 million dollars.

Indirectly trees alter the environment in which we live by helping keep the urban ecosystem healthy. Trees work to clean the air, soil and water and provide habitat for wildlife. Trees and green space are also associated with influencing human behavior such as lower crime rates, better self esteem, relieving stress, increased consumer spending and even student, staff and faculty recruitment.

The bottom line - investing in trees is good business and a necessary part of our campus and community planning - one we take very seriously!

UA Fort Smith CITYgreen Tree Ecological Analysis - 2003
Study done for main campus area by Dr. Michael Garner

CITYgreen is a powerful tool for land-use planning and policy-making. It is used with geographic information system (GIS) databases to conduct statistical analyses of ecosystem services creating easy-to-understand maps and reports. CITYgreen calculates dollar benefits based on specific site conditions. The CITYgreen software also has the capability to develop future forecast models as trees grow and mature.

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UA Fort Smith Site (Main Campus Area)


Landcover Distribution
55 percent Impervious Surface (asphalt, concrete)
45 percent Grass
16 percent Tree Canopy

Air Pollution Removal
By absorbing and filtering out nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter less than 10 microns in their leaves, urban trees perform a vital air cleaning service that directly affects the well-being of urban dwellers. CITYgreen estimates the annual air pollution removal rate of trees within a defined study area for the pollutants listed below. The actual dollar value used in CITYgreen of each air pollutant is set by the each state, Public Services Commission.


UA Fort Smith Pollution Reduction Results Annually
Pollutant lbs Removed Dollar Value
Ozone 204 $626
Sulfur Dioxide 112 $84
Nitrogen Dioxide 94 $289
Particulate Matter 235 $482
Carbon Monoxide 16 $6
Total: 661 $1,487

Carbon Storage and Sequestration
Trees remove carbon dioxide from the air through their leaves and store carbon in their biomass. Approximately half of a tree’s dry weight is carbon. For this reason, large-scale tree planting projects are recognized as a legitimate tool in many national carbon-reduction programs. CITYgreen estimates the carbon storage capacity and carbon sequestration rates of trees within a defined study area.

UA Fort Smith Carbon Impact
Age Distribution of Trees - Mature
Carbon Storage - 307 tons at time of study
Carbon Sequestration - 1,060 pounds additionally per year

Stormwater Control
Trees decrease total stormwater volume and slows peak flow. CITYgreen assesses how land cover, soil type, slope, and precipitation affect stormwater runoff volume, time of runoff concentration, and runoff peak flows. The infiltation percentage estimates the decrease in ground water recharge when the vegetation is replaced by impervious surface. The main campus area studied has a beneficial water reduction value of 3.4 percent compared to our highly forested area north of Stubblefield center with 36.7 percent storm water reduction.

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