Other upland wildlife also utilizes shelterbelts. Each tree removes approximately 13 pounds of CO2 annually. Thus shelterbelts can help to reduce the CO2 produced from burning fossil fuels. By reducing wind velocity, farmstead shelterbelts can conserve soil by limiting losses to wind erosion. Trees beautify farmsteads and provide diversity to the landscape.
Shelterbelts increase property values cost effectively.
For a relatively small investment shelterbelts provide benefits for many years. Shelterbelt Design Shelterbelts should be designed to contain 10 or more rows of trees and shrubs primarily on the north and west sides of farmsteads. Additional shrub rows and tall deciduous trees can be planted to reduce snow drifting into the shelterbelt from the south. Because the tallest lift trees can reduce wind speeds for approximately 20 times their height, a well-established planting provides adequate wind protection for at least 300 to 600 feet. The innermost portion of the planting consists of at least 4 rows of evergreens which give year round protection from winds that knife through adjacent deciduous species.