The impact of greenfield residential development on mature trees

Abstract

Mature trees provide a range of ecosystem services in urban landscapes, represent important wildlife habitat, and impact positively on human wellbeing. However, mature trees are perceived as a risk to people and infrastructure and occupy land suitable for development. Trees are slow to reach ecological maturity and thus difficult to replace when removed. In this study, we: (a) quantified native canopy cover retained during residential development using aerial imagery; (b) identified where native trees are/are not retained within residential developments with a focus on mature trees; and (c) evaluated the effectiveness of current legal mechanisms for protecting native trees during residential development. Native canopy cover was reduced by 49% during residential development. Mature trees had the highest probability of retention within residential developments if they occurred within intact remnant vegetation. A lower probability of retention for mature trees was observed in urban green space, and almost no mature trees were retained in other areas within residential developments, such as residential blocks and road verges. Mature trees had greater probability of retention where the jurisdiction offered some legislative protection. The loss of mature trees during residential development could be reduced with a greater focus on avoiding the removal of existing trees during the planning stage rather than offsetting the impacts elsewhere; and by designing green space within residential developments to ensure adequate separation between mature trees and people and infrastructure.