Perception and preference of trees: A psychological contribution to tree species selection in urban areas

Gerstenberg, Tina; Hofmann, M

doi:10.1016/j.ufug.2015.12.004

Cited by 107 publications

(77 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Sonntag-Öström et al (2015b) argued that the overall evaluation of mental state during the spring showed a greater effect on well-being compared with those during the autumn, which mainly resulted from the daylight elongation in spring. Gerstenberg & Hofmann (2016) found that the full expansion of leaves in spring enabled the full perception in response to the tree features. In an integrated summary, Song et al (2016) concluded that forest bathing in spring has several benefits for well-being, such as increases in parasympathetic nervous activity, inhibitions in sympathetic nervous activity, and decreases in the heart rate, thereby resulting in the physiological relaxation effect.…”

Section: Discussion the Employment Of Spring Time In Maymentioning

confidence: 98%

“…strengthened the white-color perception (Table 2a). Gerstenberg & Hofmann (2016) demonstrated that crown shape and the crown density were important parameters mirroring human preference. In our study we have no idea yet to know whether the crown features contributed to the significance of perceived anxiety decline in the birch forest, but we suggest more work in the future to prove our results with more detailed evidence.…”

Section: Discussion the Employment Of Spring Time In Maymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In an urban landscape design, the knowledge on tree parameters relevant to human perception of health-promoting enables the selection of different species which look similar (Gerstenberg & Hofmann 2016). However, it is difficult to plan some specific tree species in an urban area with the purpose of perceived stress restoration because the motivation of tree species selection identified by residents was found to be highly related to personal preference (Conway 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The tree-species-specific effect of forest bathing on perceived anxiety alleviation of young-adults in urban forests

Guan

Wei

et al. 2017

Ann. For. Res.

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He X., Ren Z., An B., 2017. The tree-species-specific effect of forest bathing on perceived anxiety alleviation of young-adults in urban forests. Ann. For. Res. 60(2): 327-341.Abstract. Forest bathing, i.e. spending time in a forest to walk, view and breathe in a forest, can alleviate the mental depression of visitors, but the tree-species-specific effect of this function by the urban forest is unknown. In this study, sixty-nine university students (aged 19-22, male ratio: 38%) were recruited as participants to visit urban forests dominated by birch (Betula platyphylla Suk.), maple (Acer triflorum Komarov) and oak (Quercus mongolica Fisch. ex Ledeb) trees in a park at the center of Changchun City, Northeast China. In the maple forest only the anxiety from study interest was decreased, while the anxiety from employment pressure was alleviated to the most extent in the birch forest. Participants perceived more anxiety from lesson declined in the oak forest than in the birch forest. Body parameters of weight and age were correlated with the anti-anxiety scores. In the oak forest, female participants can perceive more anxiety alleviation than male participants. For university students, forest bathing in our study can promote their study interest. Forest bathing can be more effective to alleviate the anxiety of young adults with greater weight. The birch forest was recommended to be visited by students to alleviate the pressure of employment worry, and the oak forest was recommended to be visited by girls.

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Section: Discussion the Employment Of Spring Time In Maymentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Discussion the Employment Of Spring Time In Maymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The tree-species-specific effect of forest bathing on perceived anxiety alleviation of young-adults in urban forests

Guan

Wei

et al. 2017

Ann. For. Res.

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“…In recent years, a wide range of research studies demonstrates that the presence of trees in cities is mandatory to minimize the effects of the unprecedented urban densification that our planet is experiencing (Sanesi and Chiarello, 2006;Soares et al, 2011;Gerstenberg and Hofmann, 2016). Earth's current situation demands greener cities, where trees are key elements in the urban fabric and important instruments in urban planning.…”

Section: Cities People and Street Treesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Between tree lovers and tree haters. Drivers of public perception regarding street trees and its implications on the urban green infrastructure planning

Fernandes

Silva

Teixeira

et al. 2019

Urban Forestry & Urban Greening

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A R T I C L E I N F O Keywords:Logit models Porto Tree-lined streets design and management Urban forest Urban fabric change A B S T R A C T Street trees can play an important role in the urban green infrastructure (UGI). However, changes in the urban fabric often have perverse effects on the structure, diversity, and performance of street trees, and, consequently, on their perception by the public.This research explores public perception of the current street tree adequacy in a coastal neighborhood of Porto that went through a major densification in its urban fabric during the second half of the 20th century.The research methodology included: i) a survey to evaluate public perception of tree services and disservices, and public perception of the adequacy of street trees in the study area; and ii) two Logit models relating public perception of tree services with the characteristics of respondents and streets.96% of the respondents self-reported as tree lovers. However, more than 30% found the street trees of the study area inadequate to the present urban fabric and 5% have already made a complaint to the municipality.Characteristics of respondents and streets affect respondent's perceptions. Education plays a key role in the acknowledgment of tree services. Older respondents are more likely to perceive trees as dangerous. Respondents who live on streets dominated by Black Poplar are more likely to dislike trees.Results implications on UGI planning and design advise an adjustment of tree dimensions to street dimensions, an increase in street tree diversity, and an improved street planting design. Results also suggest that an investment in education and information could lead to conflict mitigation. among green spaces, contributing to a more cohesive Urban Green Infrastructure (UGI) .While in the past, street trees have been essentially perceived as decorative elements (Sanesi and Chiarello, 2006), nowadays their environmental, economic, social and aesthetical services have been increasingly acknowledged (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005;Seamans, 2013). However, the positive attributes of street trees are not the only ones perceived by people. In the streets, trees live alongside with people and buildings, which increases the opportunities for negative interactions (Dandy, 2010). The costs of maintenance, the potential damages to urban infrastructures, the produced green waste and the allergies caused by pollinating can lead people to complain and to feel that, somehow, trees are inappropriate (Rotherham, 2010;Escobedo et al., 2011).Over the years, several studies about public perception, attitudes and opinions regarding street trees were conducted to understand what drives

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“…Urban forests-a collection of trees that grow within and around human settlements-are unique ecosystems, typically existing in highly fragmented environments, with a distinctive species composition and structure (Williams et al, 2009). Human needs and preferences play a decisive role in determining the composition of urban forests (Gerstenberg & Hofmann, 2016;Saebø, Benedikz, & Randrup, 2003), which can vary depending on the type of urban setting, its location, and the desired benefits associated with the planting (Song, Tan, Edwards, & Richards, 2017). For instance, cities typically have areas with significantly higher temperatures compared to the surrounding non-urban areas-the urban heat island effect.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the vulnerability of Australia’s urban forests to climate extremes

Esperón-Rodríguez

Power

Tjoelker

et al. 2019

Plants People Planet

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Societal Impact Statement Urban forests are recognized for the multiple benefits they provide to city‐dwellers. However, climate change will affect tree species survival and persistence in urban ecosystems. Tree failures will cause economic losses and jeopardize the delivery of societal benefits. The impacts of climate change will depend on the species’ resilience and adaptive capacity, as well as management actions which may ameliorate some of the negative impacts. Here, we assessed the potential vulnerability of Australia's urban forests to climate extremes. Our results can be used for future urban planning aiming to incorporate species that are well‐adapted to the hotter, drier climates expected with climate change. Summary Urban forests (UFs) are recognized for the multiple benefits they provide to city‐dwellers. However, global climate change—particularly predicted increases in the frequency and intensity of heatwaves and drought—will affect tree species’ performance and survival in urban ecosystems. Here, we assessed species composition and potential vulnerability of UFs in 22 Australian significant urban areas (SUAs) to heat and/or moisture stress. We quantified species’ realized climatic niches across their known distribution, and assessed the extent to which baseline climate in the SUAs where a particular species is planted fell within its niche. We used three environmental variables to group species based on their potential climate vulnerability. UFs varied in species composition and climate vulnerability across the continent. In general, neither climate similarity nor geographical proximity were good predictors of species composition among UFs. Of 1,342 tree species assessed (68.4% natives), 53% were considered potentially vulnerable to heat and/or moisture stress in at least one city where they are currently planted. Our results highlight the climate vulnerability of current plantings across Australian SUAs and can be used to direct future species selection that considers the species’ climate of origin and climatic niche. UF planning can incorporate species from SUAs with similar climates and with low vulnerability to contemporary, as well as future climate conditions. Species with high climate vulnerability, in contrast, may require more intensive management to avoid failure under future hotter, drier climate conditions.

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Perception and preference of trees: A psychological contribution to tree species selection in urban areas

Cited by 107 publications

References 47 publications

The tree-species-specific effect of forest bathing on perceived anxiety alleviation of young-adults in urban forests

The tree-species-specific effect of forest bathing on perceived anxiety alleviation of young-adults in urban forests

Between tree lovers and tree haters. Drivers of public perception regarding street trees and its implications on the urban green infrastructure planning

Assessing the vulnerability of Australia’s urban forests to climate extremes

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