Trends in Tree Species Selection for Urban Street Planting: A Thematic Review

Abstract

In major cities, street tree failures pose on-going challenges related to user safety, tree management, and maintenance. A specific street tree selection guideline is necessary to improve practitioner competencies and ensure appropriate tree placement. This study aims to evaluate the trends in street tree selection by identifying the best practices to address urban street tree conflicts. By examining articles published between 2019 and 2024, this research explores how tree species selection is approached in urban street planting. Using thematic review (TR), keywords such as “street,” “tree species,” and “selection” were sourced from SCOPUS and Web of Science (WoS) databases. The thematic review of 45 articles on urban tree species selection, visualised through a geographic distribution map, reveals significant contributions from various countries, emphasising diverse approaches and criteria. The thematic analysis identifies five key themes: Urban Tree Species Diversity and Selection, Environmental and Ecosystem Services of Urban Trees, Adaptability of Urban Trees to Climate Change, Public Perception and Preferences of Urban Trees, and Challenges and Strategies in Urban Tree Management. The findings provided valuable insights for researchers and practitioners on the trends in tree species selection for urban street planting. The thematic review on trends in urban tree species selection for street planting underscores the critical need for a multifaceted and integrated approach to urban forestry. Emphasising genetic diversity and phenotypic plasticity is essential for enhancing resilience and adaptability in urban environments. Including ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration and air pollution mitigation, in selection criteria highlights the ecological benefits of urban trees. This study recommended selection criteria to reduce conflicts and ensure appropriate tree placement. The proposed street tree selection framework is expected to address social, economic, and environmental issues related to urban street tree planting for local authorities. These findings are anticipated to contribute to future research on street tree selection models, reducing tree growth conflicts and enhancing the coexistence of humans and urban trees.