Expanding Urban Tree Species Diversity in Florida (USA): Challenges and Opportunities for Practitioners

While many practitioners and scholars understand the risks associated with low urban tree diversity, they often lack the ability to rectify this challenge on their own. The complex system of tree production and procurement is shaped by market pressures, nursery and site constraints, local governance, and differing professional objectives among those who grow, specify, and plant trees. To understand constraints to and opportunities for increasing urban tree diversity, we conducted a series of focus groups comprised of nursery growers, landscape architects, and municipal tree managers. Our results highlight a significant list of considerations and constraints to diversity, with some issues shared among green industries and some specific to growers or purchasers. In light of our findings, we outline actionable strategies for increasing urban tree diversity.

尽管诸多从业者与学者均已明晰城市树木多样性偏低所伴随的各类风险，但他们往往难以独自应对并解决这一难题。树木生产与采购的复杂体系受多重因素塑造：市场压力、苗圃与场地限制、地方治理规则，以及苗木种植、选型与栽植群体间迥异的职业目标。为厘清提升城市树木多样性面临的制约因素与潜在机遇，我们针对苗圃种植者、景观设计师及城市树木管理人员开展了一系列焦点小组调研。本研究结果揭示了一系列与提升树木多样性相关的关键考量因素与制约条件，其中部分问题为绿色产业的共性问题，另有部分仅针对种植者或采购方存在。基于本研究发现，我们提出了一系列可落地的城市树木多样性提升策略。