Climate-resilient Tree Species

Expert arborists, botanists, and horticulturists assessed 220 tree species based on criteria related to urban suitability, climate resilience/vulnerability, and additional benefits as part of a study on the climate resilience of urban tree species in Peninsular Malaysia. All species in this dataset are trees, shrubs, and palms commonly found in urban and rural areas of Malaysia, compiled from four independent sources. Expert knowledge was derived from various sources, including published evidence from primary or grey literature, direct observations (e.g., during weather events like floods), or inferences based on observations of ecologically similar species or known ecological factors (e.g., geographical range or habitat associations). The fixed dataset used for the study has been archived on FigShare to ensure its long-term availability. For the most updated data, practitioners should refer to the Atlas of Climate Resilient Tree Species (ACResT) at www.acrest.com.my. ACResT is an open and collaborative online database that consolidates data on tree species. The assessments for the 220 species mentioned above have also been published on ACResT to encourage review by a broader group of practitioners. Additionally, ACResT allows for the entry and assessment of other tree species found in Malaysia, Singapore, or Indonesian Borneo. We invite all tree experts, including arborists, botanists, horticulturists, landscape architects, and enthusiasts, to join ACResT. While the tree assessment process is thorough and robust, certification by an accredited organization is not required to join. We acknowledge the diverse backgrounds of knowledge holders and will evaluate each registration on a case-by-case basis.