Articles
Towards a biodiversity metric for urban tree species
Article number
1429_44
Pages
361 – 368
Language
English
Abstract
The biodiversity potential of a tree species is an important criterion for tree selection.
Despite this, curated information is not readily available to those tasked with designing and managing our future urban forest.
This study provides a novel, composite, relative biodiversity assessment for Acer, Prunus, Quercus and Tilia trees used within the UK. Of the 66 species evaluated, five tree species had a biodiversity value outcome of ‘very high’; 12 species were assessed to be of ‘high’ value; 19 species were assessed as ‘moderate’ value and 30 species to be of ‘low’ value to biodiversity.
If this scoring system was applied to a wider range of urban tree species, it would greatly assist practitioners seeking to enhance the biodiversity value of our shared urban greenspace.
Despite this, curated information is not readily available to those tasked with designing and managing our future urban forest.
This study provides a novel, composite, relative biodiversity assessment for Acer, Prunus, Quercus and Tilia trees used within the UK. Of the 66 species evaluated, five tree species had a biodiversity value outcome of ‘very high’; 12 species were assessed to be of ‘high’ value; 19 species were assessed as ‘moderate’ value and 30 species to be of ‘low’ value to biodiversity.
If this scoring system was applied to a wider range of urban tree species, it would greatly assist practitioners seeking to enhance the biodiversity value of our shared urban greenspace.
Authors
A.D. Hirons, J.H.R. Watkins, K.W.E. Martin
Keywords
biodiversity, species selection, urban trees
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