Species Diversity and Preferred Attributes of Trees: A Case Study of the Private Urban Forest in the Greater Toronto Area

Healthy urban forests should have a diverse, native assemblage of species to support ecological integrity and reduce vulnerability to stressors. Since most urban trees are located on private property, landowner preferences for urban trees have a significant impact on the urban forest. Recent studies indicate that landowners select tree species based on aesthetic or functional attributes, without considering species diversity or ecological integrity. To examine the impact of landowner decisions, this study explores the relationship between property-level diversity metrics and aesthetic and functional attributes. Field inventories of trees on residential properties were conducted in Oakville and Markham, Ontario, and the results were analyzed along with residents’ knowledge, attitudes, and corresponding household characteristics gathered through a written survey. Few significant relationships were found in the statistical analysis, indicating that the residents’ decision-making process is complicated and requires further study.M.Sc