Forest Biodiversity Assessment in Peruvian Andean Montane Cloud Forest

Cloud forests are unusual and fragile habitats, being one of the least studied and least understood ecosystems. The tropical Andean dominion is considered one of the most significant places in the world as rega rds biological diversity, with a very high level of endemism. The biodiversity was analysed in an isolated remnant area of a tropical montane cloud forest known as the ?Bosque de Neblina de Cuyas?, in the North of the Peruvian Andean range. Composition, structure and dead wood were measured or estimated. The values obtained were compared with other cloud forests. The study revealed a high level of forest biodiversity, although the level of biodiversity differs from one area to another: in the inner areas, where human pressure is almost inexistent, the biodiversity values increase. The high species richness and the low dominance among species bear testimony to this montane cloud forest as a real enclave of biodiversity

Trees and Crime in Bogota, Colombia: Is the link an ecosystem disservice or service?

There is a perception that increased forest cover and density in urban contexts is associated with increased criminality. But, this complex relationship between urban vegetation, crime, ecosystem services (ES) and disservices (ED), has been little studied in low and middle income countries. This study's aim was to statistically determine if specific structural and socioeconomic characteristics of urban treescapes were related to crime occurrence, considered an ED, in a major Latin American city. We used spatial and statistical analyses of a public tree inventory, homicide occurrence, and available geospatial data to analyze if urban treescape, demographic, and socioeconomic variables were related to the incidence of homicides in Neotropical Bogota, Colombia. First, a generalized linear model indicated that fewer homicides occurred in public treescapes with taller trees and higher tree density. In contrast, the amount of overall green space and average tree basal area were not significant predictors of homicide occurrence. Second, a geographically weighted regression model indicated that the inclusion of tree basal area rendered tree height insignificant, and that higher basal areas were associated with fewer homicides. Thus, both models indicated that increased tree density and size were actually associated with lower homicide occurrences. The amount of public green areas was however, not significantly related to homicide occurrence. Results indicate that in general, Bogota´s treescapes provided overall net ES as opposed to ED in terms of crime. Findings could be used to develop land use policies and management practices that increase the overall provision and demand for ES from urban forests. © 2018 Elsevier Lt

Trees and Crime in Bogota, Colombia: Is the link an ecosystem disservice or service?

There is a perception that increased forest cover and density in urban contexts is associated with increased criminality. But, this complex relationship between urban vegetation, crime, ecosystem services (ES) and disservices (ED), has been little studied in low and middle income countries. This study's aim was to statistically determine if specific structural and socioeconomic characteristics of urban treescapes were related to crime occurrence, considered an ED, in a major Latin American city. We used spatial and statistical analyses of a public tree inventory, homicide occurrence, and available geospatial data to analyze if urban treescape, demographic, and socioeconomic variables were related to the incidence of homicides in Neotropical Bogota, Colombia. First, a generalized linear model indicated that fewer homicides occurred in public treescapes with taller trees and higher tree density. In contrast, the amount of overall green space and average tree basal area were not significant predictors of homicide occurrence. Second, a geographically weighted regression model indicated that the inclusion of tree basal area rendered tree height insignificant, and that higher basal areas were associated with fewer homicides. Thus, both models indicated that increased tree density and size were actually associated with lower homicide occurrences. The amount of public green areas was however, not significantly related to homicide occurrence. Results indicate that in general, Bogota´s treescapes provided overall net ES as opposed to ED in terms of crime. Findings could be used to develop land use policies and management practices that increase the overall provision and demand for ES from urban forests. © 2018 Elsevier Lt

Resolving uncertainties in predictive equations for urban tree crown characteristics of the southeastern United States: Local and general equations for common and widespread species

Urban forest research and management requires improved methods for quantifying ecosystem structure and function. Regional equations for urban tree crown width and height can accordingly improve predictions of urban tree structure. Using a large regional dataset with 12 locations in the southeastern US, we developed diameter-based equations for 97 urban tree species. Whereas previously published urban equations have almost exclusively been developed with one location on public or commercial land, our data included both public and private land uses. For 5 widespread, common urban tree species (Acer rubrum, Cornus florida, Pinus taeda, Quercus nigra and Lagerstroemia spp.), we also assessed the inclusion of additional variables such as crown light exposure, land cover, basal area, and location. Overall, height and crown width models were improved when including additional predictors, although competition and location effects varied by species. Study city was a significant predictor of tree height in all species except C. florida, and a significant predictor of crown width for all species except C. florida and Q. nigra. This indicates that anthropogenically-influenced variation among cities can lead to significant differences in both tree form and structure and that future model development should utilize data encompassing multiple cities. Our predictive equations for urban tree crown characteristics provide an improved method for planning, management, and estimating the provision of ecosystem services to improve quality of life in cities. © 2016 Elsevier Gmb

Resolving uncertainties in predictive equations for urban tree crown characteristics of the southeastern United States: Local and general equations for common and widespread species

Urban forest research and management requires improved methods for quantifying ecosystem structure and function. Regional equations for urban tree crown width and height can accordingly improve predictions of urban tree structure. Using a large regional dataset with 12 locations in the southeastern US, we developed diameter-based equations for 97 urban tree species. Whereas previously published urban equations have almost exclusively been developed with one location on public or commercial land, our data included both public and private land uses. For 5 widespread, common urban tree species (Acer rubrum, Cornus florida, Pinus taeda, Quercus nigra and Lagerstroemia spp.), we also assessed the inclusion of additional variables such as crown light exposure, land cover, basal area, and location. Overall, height and crown width models were improved when including additional predictors, although competition and location effects varied by species. Study city was a significant predictor of tree height in all species except C. florida, and a significant predictor of crown width for all species except C. florida and Q. nigra. This indicates that anthropogenically-influenced variation among cities can lead to significant differences in both tree form and structure and that future model development should utilize data encompassing multiple cities. Our predictive equations for urban tree crown characteristics provide an improved method for planning, management, and estimating the provision of ecosystem services to improve quality of life in cities. © 2016 Elsevier Gmb