What is the primary purpose of a Tree Risk Assessment?

The primary purpose of a Tree Risk Assessment is to assess the potential risk that trees pose to people, property, and the environment. This process involves identifying and evaluating factors that can lead to tree failure, which could result in harm to individuals or damage to structures and landscapes. Assessing these risks is critical for managing trees in urban and suburban settings, where interactions with human activities and infrastructure are frequent.

Understanding the risk associated with trees helps land managers, arborists, and property owners make informed decisions about tree maintenance, removal, or replacement. The goal is to ensure safety while also maintaining the ecological benefits that trees provide.

In contrast, the other options relate to different aspects of tree management that do not focus specifically on safety and risk. Evaluating aesthetic value, determining species diversity, and measuring growth rates are important components of forestry and landscape management, but they do not address the primary concern of assessing risk to people and property.