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Analyzing the cost effectiveness of Santiago, Chile's policy of using urban forests to improve air quality

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Santiago, Chile has the distinction of having among the worst urban air pollution problems in Latin America. As part of an atmospheric pollution reduction plan, the Santiago Regional Metropolitan government defined an environmental policy goal of using urban forests to remove particulate matter less than 10 µm (PM10) in the Gran Santiago area. We used cost effectiveness, or the process of establishing costs and selecting least cost alternatives for obtaining a defined policy goal of PM10 removal, to analyze this policy goal. For this study, we quantified PM10 removal by Santiago's urban forests based on socioeconomic strata and using field and real-time pollution and climate data via a dry deposition urban forest effects model. Municipal urban forest management costs were estimated using management cost surveys and Chilean Ministry of Planning and Cooperation documents.

Keywords

cost-effective analysis, urban forest management, air pollution abatement, street trees, ecosystem services

Citation

Escobedo, Francisco J.; Wagner, John E.; Nowak, David J.; De la Maza, Carmen Luz; Rodriguez, Manuel; Crane, Daniel E. 2008. Analyzing the cost effectiveness of Santiago, Chile''s policy of using urban forests to improve air quality. Journal of Environmental Management. 86: 148-157.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/18827