Thousands of city trees have been lost .... Melbourne Aust.

Erik Anderson

2020-02-26

the conversation

Keywords: City trees, Development, Tree loss, Tree protection policies, Urban canopy, Urbanization, Urban forestry, Urban environment, canopy cover

Big development isn’t the only challenge for urban tree cover. During the period covered by our newly published study, the inner city lost a further 8,000 street trees to a variety of causes – vandals, establishment failures of young trees, drought, smaller developments and vehicle damage.

A study conducted in Melbourne highlights the significant loss of city trees to development activities, with around 2,000 trees being removed near major developments in the inner city from 2008 to 2017. Despite robust tree protection policies in place, factors like site access needs, compacted soil, and root conflicts contribute to tree removals. The study reveals that while the city's protection policy effectively safeguards larger trees, younger trees crucial for future canopy growth face challenges. The findings emphasize the importance of strong tree protection measures, financial incentives for retention, and improved planting strategies to preserve urban tree cover amidst rapid urban development.

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Tags: Climate change, Trees, Urban development, Tree cover, Tree planting, Urban forests, Urban heat mitigation, Urban greening