Factors affecting tree retention in developing sites in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

A study conducted by Ho (2008) shows that the urbanization rate in Malaysia is on the rise. Better quality of life and promising future are factors that encouraged people from rural area to migrate to urban area. This has resulted in forested, agricultural and ex- mining areas being were converted into built areas to accommodate the increasing urban dwellers. Conflict between trees and urban development in Kuala Lumpur has initiated the City Hall of Kuala Lumpur to produce Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan reports in 1984 and 2004 for a sound urban development plan. As the urban dwellers are the stakeholders who were affected directly or indirectly through the development proposed by the City Hall of Kuala Lumpur, it is important for the urban dwellers to participate in the decision making process. Thus, this study attempted to assess the public attitudes and perceptions towards/on street trees and urban trees in Kuala Lumpur, focusing on street trees values, urban development and legislation issues. Questionnaire surveys and semi- structured interview were used with the reference to the demographic profile of the respondents and classification of street trees planting and socio-economic profile of the respondents. Gender and age factors showed significant differences between tested groups for respondents' attitudes to the value of street trees. For tree retention and urban development section, respondents' ethnicity and educational attainment revealed distinctive significant differences between tested groups. However, with regard to tree retention and legislation, only respondents' age and educational attainment received the most significant associations and differences. As for study related to street trees planting in the respondents' neighbourhood and their socio-economic status, even though a Kruskal-Wallis tests showed significant differences (p<0.05), only tree retention and legislation marked the most significant difference in results for street trees planting (Kruskal-Wallis test, p<0.05) and socio-economic status (Kruskal-Wallis test, p