Forum

To increase the benefit–cost ratio of an urban forest: plant wisely, maintain efficiently, maximize ecosystem services, and engage the community. By reducing costs through better planning and increasing benefits through strategic planting and outreach, the BCR will improve significantly.

By making the park more appealing, through the planting of diverse plants, it will attract more visitors, which will mean its net impact on those living around it will increase. Planting low-maintenance and hardy trees and shrubs will mean less energy and cost will have to be expended in the maintenance of the park. If people living around the park would be included in planting or the revitalization of the park, they will feel more ownership for it and will likely take better care of it. This will require less maintenance and repair costs as well.