Benefit -cost Analysis on Street Tree Management of Greavillea robusta in Kunming Urban Area

Greavillea robusta, one of the major street tree species planted in the urban area of Kunming City, was studied on the basis of spatial distribution investigation andmeasurement of a series of growth indices.The corresponding database set by the USDA Urban Forest Research Center located in Davis was applied to calculate the comprehensive benefits produced by this street tree species including dust reduction, storm water retention, CO₂ absorption, NOx, SOx and ozone decomposition, and property value increment within each year.The related management costs for the street trees of Greavillea robusta were meanwhile calculated based on information provided by Kunming Municipal Administration of Landscape Architecture.The result showed that the majority plants of Greavillea robusta grew well in Kunming, the annual total benefits produced by them was RMB 95 153.95, and the total annual cost for management of these street trees was RMB 92 238.18, the benefit cost ratio was 1.032:1,which indicated that benefits produced by Greavillea robusta street trees could fully cover the management cost, suggesting that Greavillea robusta was an appropriate species as street tree in Kunming.Some suggestions were put forward to improve management and tending for these street trees so that their overall benefits can be fully realized in the city.