By Jamie Martin
Over the past year, Joe Zeleznik, Forester NDSU Extension tracked over 600 questions about trees and forests, and one that really stood out was: "How much is a mature shelterbelt worth?"
It seems like a straightforward question, but the answer isn’t simple. To truly understand the value of a shelterbelt, you need to know what it’s protecting. Are we talking about crops, a farmstead, livestock, or even a roadway? Without that clarity, it’s impossible to put an exact value on it.
For simplicity, let's say that shelterbelts and windbreaks are the same thing rows of trees that serve to protect land and structures from wind and snow.
Here are a few things to think about when considering the value of a windbreak:
- They can improve crop yields by 6% to 44%.
- They help store snow, which is cheaper than plowing it away.
- Windbreaks can lower heating costs by 20% to 40% during winter.
- Livestock benefit from shelter, reducing their feed needs in winter.
In forestry, we usually focus on the value of timber products, such as how many planks of wood we can get from a tree or how much pulpwood can be harvested from a piece of land. But valuing services, like those offered by shelterbelts, is a bit more challenging. However, it is possible to calculate some of their benefits. For instance, how much would it cost to plow snow from your driveway without a windbreak versus with one?
Another important factor is how shelterbelts contribute to pollinators. Trees and shrubs in windbreaks provide essential nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinators.
Joe Zeleznik keep a beehive in a shelterbelt, and it’s one of my most productive hives. The shade, as well as the abundance of flowers, play a huge role in its success.
Finally, the value shelterbelts provide to wildlife is difficult to measure. Some species thrive in these environments, while others don’t, which makes it hard to quantify their benefit for wildlife in general.
In the end, shelterbelts may not come with a clear price tag, but the value they provide from protecting resources to supporting biodiversity is immeasurable.
Photo Credit: ndsu
Categories: National