Considerations concerning CAVAT: what does its “tree amenity value” actually measure?

Price, Colin

doi:10.1080/03071375.2020.1721957

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…It has no numerical relevance, simply because the quotient is in the right units, £/cm 2 . CAVAT's UVF-based value may have other economic roles, but I made what I thought was a thorough search (Price, 2020), without noticing such a role being identified accurately and described convincingly.…”

Section: Is Auv's Lower Bound Amenity Benefit Too Small?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the Arboricultural Journal for April 2018, Doick et al (2018) comprehensively described the amenity tree valuation method, CAVAT. I have offered an extensive critique of the method (Price, 2020), and suggested some ways whereby its practical protocol might be combined with techniques from environmental and forestry economics. Neilan (2021) has responded to my critique, and I have made a rejoinder to him and his co-authors (Price, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Further considerations concerning CAVAT

Price

2021

Arboricultural Journal

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The amenity tree valuation method CAVAT apparently gives reduced weight to future benefits, similarly to discounting. Discounting future conditions allows calculation of a value per year per square centimetre of tree basal area, on the premise that tree planting was rationally done. The resulting value ascribed to a target tree is much lower than that calculated by CAVAT. CAVAT's value is the same as given by the "rational" procedure if trees were predicted not to grow. The "rational" perspective provides a reasoned estimate of CAVAT's avowed objective of calculating a compensation replacement value for lost trees. CAVAT itself seemingly calculates over-generous compensation. The "rational" protocol's apparently low value may be adjusted upwards to recognise incomplete planting survival, conditions of high cost, overheads and, sometimes, defective discounting. These, and any neglect of the value of subsequent replanting and of people's particular associations with trees, may undervalue fair financial recompense, especially when no compensation planting is made. However, some of these factors would revise CAVAT values upwards too, so the gap between outcomes might remain. Neither protocol translates from a cost basis to a full amenity benefit of trees.

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Section: Is Auv's Lower Bound Amenity Benefit Too Small?mentioning

confidence: 99%