Variations of the treescape in relation to urban development in a Chinese city: The case of Nanjing

Abstract

Urban trees, as prominent and pertinent landscape elements of cities, are increasingly studied by both practitioners and academics. Trees in Chinese cities have hitherto received little detailed analysis from the viewpoint of urban forestry or landscape analysis. This study attempts a comprehensive evaluation of the tree population in Nanjing, focusing on the association between urban development and treescape attributes. Six districts, covering the main built-up area of 130 km2, formed the study area. Nine land-use types with varied urban morphology and three urban zones with different development history were identified, within which subareas and trees were sampled for field study of tree dimensions, tree performance, and site characteristics. Statistical analyses on the 6,527 surveyed trees verify that tree performance is significantly associated with land use, site condition, and related human activities. Treescape is associated with housing ownership, town planning, and the history of urban expansion. The relationship between treescape and urban landscape units can furnish hints for improved urban forest planning and management and better coordination between planners and landscape professionals.