Tree diversity in Hangzhou's Buddhist temples, China

This dataset documents tree inventories associated with temples across various regions, collected as part of an ecological and cultural heritage survey conducted from June 2023 to December 2024. The data were gathered through field measurements and observations by a team of botanists and local temple caretakers. Tree height (in meters), diameter at breast height (in centimeters), and crown width (in meters) were measured using a combination of laser rangefinders (e.g., Nikon Forestry Pro II) and standard forestry calipers, with measurements taken during the growing season to ensure consistency. Species identification was confirmed by cross-referencing physical specimens with botanical records, and Latin names were assigned according to the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN). Data were compiled manually into spreadsheets and subsequently cleaned using Python scripts to standardize formatting and remove duplicates, ensuring accuracy for public use.The dataset covers a temporal scope from 2023 to 2024 and a geographical scope spanning multiple temple sites across distinct regions, though specific coordinates are generalized to location names (e.g., village or town) to protect site privacy. Spatial resolution varies by temple size, typically ranging from 0.5 to 5 hectares per site. The data are stored in a single tabular file with 1,245 entries, where each row represents an individual tree or tree cluster and columns include: temple name (寺庙), species (物种), Latin name (拉丁名), tree height in meters (树高/m), diameter at breast height in centimeters (胸径/cm), crown width in meters (冠幅/m), location (位置), number of trees (株数), ancient tree status (古树, denoted as "Yes" or "No"), and region (区域). Units are clearly specified in the column headers, and all measurements are reported in metric units.Errors in measurements are estimated at ±0.2 meters for height, ±1 centimeter for diameter, and ±0.5 meters for crown width, attributed to manual measurement variability and environmental factors like wind. The dataset is provided in a single xlsx. file, "Temple_Tree_Inventory.xlsx" (approximately 150 KB), containing all records in a widely accessible format.