Tree Value

[Terra Joe]

I was following another members thread regarding a property line issue, and several members replied about laws regarding timber/tree values. Rather than hijack his thread, I thought I would start a new one.

A tree service was removing dead trees from the property of the condo's that border my property. They removed a large cherry tree from my property (in PA) while they where there. I have ben unable to find anyone willing to estimate a value for the tree. I contacted my insurance company to ask who they used to assess after storm damage, and they said they didn't have anyone. I called two local "tree experts" and both gruffly told me they didn't do that. Any suggestions on how to estimate a value before I take this issue any further?

Terra Joe

 

[dave1949]

Have a look at this chart. Page 3 gives values by PA region:
http://extension.psu.edu/natural-re...r-market-report/reports/2012/2012-4th-quarter

They vary considerably based on the quality of the log, plus that is the value standing in the woods, before it is cut and hauled.

Trees in residential areas can be suspect due to nails, etc. in the tree.

 

[Terra Joe]

Thank you for the chart, but I must confess to ignorance in how to read it. The stump is approximately 24" in diameter, how would I calculate that with the chart? I cant comment on the grade of the log, since I never critically examined it. I never really expected that it would go missing!

 

[Rock knocker]

American Society of Consulting Arborists https://www.asca-consultants.org/

International Society of Arborists: International Society of Arboriculture

 

[dave1949]

The chart gives the range of prices, in the different regions of PA, in $ per MBF. MBF is 1000's of board feet. A board foot is a volume of wood 1"x12"x12".

If the stump is 24" in diameter at the ground, let's assume a DBH of 20" (Diameter at Breast Height - roughly 4-1/2 feet from the ground) to account for the tree narrowing as it goes up.

According to my International 1/4 inch rule tree scaling stick (which I barely know how to use), and assuming the tree had 32' of clear log before branching: 2 - sixteen-feet-long logs from a tree with a DBH of 20" contain a total of 295 board feet, or .295 MBF.

Per the stumpage price chart on page-3, the average price for black cherry in SE Penn. is $457 per MBF. So, .295 mbf x $457 = $134.82. In a normal timber harvest, the cost of logging and transportation comes out of that amount, the owner gets the net. In a residential setting, the tree is worth more to a homeowner than one standing in the woods, of course.

As you can see, without someone accurately grading and scaling the log, the value is just a wild guess. But unless it was an exceptional log, it probably wasn't worth as much as you think as standing timber. If you pursue it, I would ask for the cost of replacement with a 4" to 6" live tree from a tree nursery who will guarantee it lives.

 

[PsRumors]

Call around and get a price on a replacement tree brought to the property and planted. Get as close to the size of the tree as possible. It will be thousands of dollars. THAT is the value, they need to replace what they stole.

 

[salopez]

Find a tree farm or tree moving co. They will know.

That's a pricy tree

 

[DT86]

I would contact your closest state forestry office.

Several years ago I was in the local Virginia Dept. of Forestry office. While waiting for the man I had came to talk with I browsed through all the pamphlets they had laid out on a desk. One of them was about Timber Theft, up until that time I had never thought about it being an issue. When I finally spoke with the Forester I asked him if this was really a problem. He said they dealt with it all the time, since most people don't think the neighbor will miss standing timber on the back of a huge tract. He also said it was common for the missing timber to go unnoticed for years at a time, since it was in such isolated areas.

I realize you are only dealing with one tree, not several truck loads like they normally deal with, but I think they would at least know which direction to lead you in.

Good luck.

 

[Gator6x4]

Thank you for the chart, but I must confess to ignorance in how to read it. The stump is approximately 24" in diameter, how would I calculate that with the chart? I cant comment on the grade of the log, since I never critically examined it. I never really expected that it would go missing!

When someone said let there be light I threw the switch. I said that to say I am a long ways from being young. In my life time I have never seen a cherry tree that if cut down would measure 24 inches across the stump. Most cherry trees leave a 6-9 inch across stump when cut down.

 

[ptgdigger]

Also in PA "timber trees" (not residential decorative trees) are "treble damages" , that means if someone cuts a tree on your property without permission you are entitled to 3 times the value of the tree. The value that they would use to calculate this would be timber value (board feet) not replacement cost.

Ray