This article discusses the challenges faced by municipalities in meeting tree-planting targets and transitioning towards resilient urban forest management practices. It highlights the structural problems in urban forestry management and the failures in implementation and maintenance strategies. The article emphasizes the need to overcome obstacles related to budget allocations and societal perceptions about trees in order to unlock the potential benefits of trees as vital infrastructures for a resilient future. It also explores the historical transition in urban tree systems and the importance of recognizing the interconnectedness of trees and humans within cities. The article presents examples of innovative cities that are integrating trees as green infrastructure and outlines the obstacles faced by municipalities in increasing urban forest growth. It calls for a revolution in bureaucratic systems and a shift in human perception to value and prioritize urban trees.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trees As Infrastructure | Transition from inadequate urban forest management practices to resilient practices with open source support | Cities implementing effective tree-planting and maintenance strategies | Growing acknowledgement of the importance of trees in combating climate change |
| Trees framed as costs rather than assets | Shift from perceiving trees as liabilities to valuing them as valuable assets | Trees are treated as valuable assets on local authorities’ balance sheets | Recognition of the benefits provided by urban trees |
| Success metrics focused on planting, not maintaining | Transition from fixation on tree-planting targets to considering maintenance and other metrics of success | Adoption of more granular and context-specific success metrics for urban forests | Greater understanding of the benefits derived from well-maintained urban trees |
| Simplification of the financial returns of trees | Move towards more comprehensive and accurate valuation models for urban trees | Improved tools for quantifying the monetary and ecological value of trees | Recognition of the multiple benefits provided by urban trees and the potential for financial beneficiaries |
| Focus on centralised man-made infrastructures | Shift towards recognizing and leveraging the benefits of natural infrastructure, including trees | Increased investment in green infrastructure and nature conservation within cities | Recognition of the potential of trees and other natural infrastructures to provide multiple ecological services |