One thing to consider is that in a lot of settings a tree represents more money standing than cut down.
A mature and well placed tree can add many thousands of dollars to the selling price of a house.
A tree can also have a strong effect on energy use. In the summer the shade saves on air conditioning and in the winter a tree can help deflect the wind. Strategically placed a tree, more typically a line of trees, can drastically lower the amount of snow that collect on walk and driveways. This can be a substantial savings in time, effort, and expense. These savings recur every year and over the life of a tree can easily amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars.