To evaluate the benefit of a management program that prevents attack on trees, it is important to determine the cost of the alternative course of action. In this case, the alternative is to remove and presumably replace every infested tree. Replacing mature trees in the urban setting is impossible to do. If damaged and removed, the services that these trees provide are forever lost.

There are three types of cost: disposal, replanting, and especially services lost.

The cost to remove larger trees easily approaches $1500.00. Smaller trees are more economical, around $580.00 per tree. This does not include removing the stumps and roots. If stumps and roots are removed, there would be an additional cost, possible $300.00 per stump.

It is impossible to replace large mature established trees in an urban setting. To replace a 2.5 m ponderosa pine tree it would cost at least $350.00 per tree.

Mature trees provide a number of services. These include the provision of shade, visual pleasure, interruption of wind, erosion control, snow catchment, absorption of carbon dioxide, and harborage for organisms such as birds, squirrels, and insects. According to a professional arborist, the appraised value of a 45cm diameter mature ponderosa pine growing in its natural range in the Okanagan is $16,600. Provided this tree is replaced at cost of $350.00, it would take 20 years for the replacement trees to even begin to deliver the level of services lost when a mature tree dies. The annual cost, assuming that it would take 20 years for the newly planted trees to offer the same level of services would be $831 per tree for 20 years, until the tree is replaced.

Summing the above values, the total estimated cost for one mature tree that dies because of bark beetle attack would be $17,556.00. Therefore, any measure to keep such a tree alive, that cumulatively over the years remained below $17,556 per tree would provide a favourable benefit to cost ratio.