Growth, Maintenance, and Function of Urban Trees

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Urban Forestry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 17 July 2026 | Viewed by 1383

Special Issue Editors

College of Landscape architecture and Art, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Interests: landscape and urban planning; urban ecology; ecological remote sensing; ecosystem regulation and restoration

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Guest Editor
Department of Landscape Protection and Reclamation, Institute of Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning and Garden Art, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Villányi Street 29-43,1118 Budapest, Hungary
Interests: cultural ecosystem services; participatory planning; PPGIS; landscape analyses; green infrastructure
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Guest Editor Assistant
College of Urban and Rural Construction, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China
Interests: green infrastructure; ecosystem services; landscape and urban planning; landscape ecology

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Guest Editor Assistant
School of Architecture, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
Interests: urban microclimate; sustainable urban environment; green spaces and urban thermal comfort

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Urban trees serve as critical biological mediators within complex socio-ecological systems, playing an irreplaceable role in enhancing ecological resilience, mitigating climate change, advancing carbon neutrality, and improving human well-being. However, challenges such as accelerated urbanization, an increasing frequency of extreme climatic events, environmental pollution, and competition for land resources significantly constrain urban trees’ growth vitality, maintenance efficiency, and multifunctional performance. This Special Issue will showcase multidisciplinary research on innovative technologies, data-driven strategies, and inclusive management frameworks to integrate urban tree science into climate-resilient urban planning, public health policies, and global sustainable development agendas.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Tree growth and adaptability;
  • Tree maintenance and health management;
  • Ecosystem services;
  • Social benefits and equity;
  • Perceptions of cultural values;
  • Intelligent monitoring and digitalized management;
  • Policy integration and governance strategies.

We invite submissions from ecologists, landscape architects, urban planners, foresters, horticulturists, arborists, and policymakers to collaboratively advance a holistic understanding of urban trees as critical green infrastructure.

Dr. Shidong Ge
Dr. Valánszki István
Guest Editors

Dr. Xiaoping Chen
Dr. Sihan Xue
Guest Editor Assistants

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • urban tree
  • growth
  • maintenance
  • ecosystem services
  • social benefits
  • tree management

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 2793 KB  
Article
Multi-Criteria Selection of Urban Trees Integrating Ecosystem Services, Ecological Adaptability, and Ornamental Value: A Case Study in Kaifeng, China
by Shilong Wang, Shidong Ge, Hui Cao, Ran Wen, Xueqian Wang, Zhijun Liu, Ang Li, Junguo Shi, Qiutan Ren and Man Zhang
Forests 2026, 17(5), 529; https://doi.org/10.3390/f17050529 - 27 Apr 2026
Viewed by 114
Abstract
This study developed a comprehensive framework integrating ecosystem services (ESs), ecological adaptability, and ornamental value to guide tree species selection in historic cities constrained by soil salinization and subsurface heritage conservation. Taking Kaifeng, Henan Province, as a case study, we employed field surveys, [...] Read more.
This study developed a comprehensive framework integrating ecosystem services (ESs), ecological adaptability, and ornamental value to guide tree species selection in historic cities constrained by soil salinization and subsurface heritage conservation. Taking Kaifeng, Henan Province, as a case study, we employed field surveys, i-Tree Eco, the Analytic Hierarchy Process, and K-means clustering to evaluate trees across protective, park, attached, and square green spaces. Results showed that carbon-related services dominated Kaifeng’s urban ES profile, with carbon storage (CS) and sequestration (CSE) value densities of 9.09 ¥·m−2 and 0.84 ¥·m−2·y−1, respectively. Air pollutant removal (AR) (0.21 ¥·m−2·y−1) and P (0.009 ¥·m−2·y−1) values remained comparatively low. Camphora officinarum Nees ex Wall delivered the highest annual ES value per tree (33.24 ¥·y−1). Plaza greenery outperformed other space types in overall service provision, and deciduous broadleaf species generated greater ES value than evergreen conifers. Cluster analysis identified four functional groups: stress-tolerant pioneers, balanced adapters, high-efficiency carbon sinks, and ornamental specialists—each suited to specific green space contexts. This integrated framework offers a transferable approach for evidence-based tree selection in saline historic cities, supporting nature-based solutions in urban green space (UGS) planning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Growth, Maintenance, and Function of Urban Trees)
21 pages, 3491 KB  
Article
Urban Roadside Forests as Green Infrastructure: Multifunctional Ecosystem Services in a Coastal City of China
by Wenjing Niu, Xiang Yu and Lu Ding
Forests 2025, 16(12), 1841; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16121841 - 10 Dec 2025
Viewed by 727
Abstract
Urban roadside forests are vital components of green infrastructure that provide multiple ecosystem services, contributing to climate regulation, environmental quality, and urban resilience. This study assessed the multifunctional ecosystem services of roadside tree communities along four representative road types—Coastal Scenic, Commercial Arterial, Residential [...] Read more.
Urban roadside forests are vital components of green infrastructure that provide multiple ecosystem services, contributing to climate regulation, environmental quality, and urban resilience. This study assessed the multifunctional ecosystem services of roadside tree communities along four representative road types—Coastal Scenic, Commercial Arterial, Residential Secondary, and Industrial Park Roads—in Weihai, a coastal city in eastern China. Based on a complete tree inventory (6742 individuals from 38 species) integrated with the i-Tree Eco model, we quantified three key ecosystem services, carbon storage and annual sequestration, air-pollutant removal, and stormwater interception, and monetized their benefits. Results indicate that roadside forests stored approximately 1120 tons of carbon and sequestered 78 tons annually (≈USD 0.53 million; CNY 3.85 million), removed 1.28 tons of air pollutants per year (≈USD 9370; CNY 68,400), and intercepted 1560 m3 of stormwater (≈USD 5560; CNY 40,600). Commercial Arterial and Coastal Scenic Roads yielded the highest total ecosystem-service values, while Residential Secondary Roads achieved the greatest per-area efficiency. These findings highlight the significant contribution of urban roadside forests to sustainable and climate-resilient city development and underscore their potential role in urban forest planning and management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Growth, Maintenance, and Function of Urban Trees)
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