Functional diversity criteria for selecting urban trees

Abstract

The lack of technical criteria for tree selection in urban areas generates difficulties for infrastructure development and reduces the benefits obtained from this resource. In the present study the functional diversity approach was used to plan such tree planting. Based on an urban tree census of Ibagué city, nine functional traits were characterized in 202 species that responded to different spatial and environmental conditions. Three specific functional indices were determined, and hierarchical clusters were applied. A total of 18 functional types of plants were obtained, which were assigned to 29 subtypes of found places, filtering by average value and coefficient of variation. The analyzed species had functional diversities that adequately satisfied the conditions of tree planting, 64.36% were ideal for planting on platforms and median strips, 45.04% in parks and along the shores of urban streams, and 11.88% in front yards. These results are recommended for application in tree management in other Andean cities having similar conditions and testing the proposed methodology in other tropical regions is also recommended.