CAVAT (Capital Asset Value for Amenity Trees): valuing amenity trees as public assets

Abstract

Valuing amenity trees is important for calculating loss of amenity and replacement value following wilful or negligent damage, and for several aspects of urban forest management: planning, budget setting and decision-making. Capital Asset Value for Amenity Trees (CAVAT) is a tool for valuing amenity trees; it was first presented publicly in 2003. It includes two methods: the Full Method, which is used to provide a compensation replacement value for single trees; and the Quick Method, which is used to determine the value of a population of trees as an asset, for asset management purposes. CAVAT is widely adopted across the UK within local authority tree departments, and by major land-holding and transport organisations. It is also incorporated into the Joint Mitigation Protocol for use in the assessment of subsidence cases. This paper presents CAVAT for the first time in a formal publication. It describes the uses for which it has been designed, it comprehensively describes the methodology and shows where this deviates from similar valuation tools. Five case studies are presented as examples of its application and demonstration of its suitability-for-use. Finally, future potential developments that would facilitate wider use of CAVAT are also presented.