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作者

Jessica M. Quinton;Peter N. Duinker;Karen A. Gallant;James W.N. Steenberg;John D. Charles

来源

URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING,Vol.43,Issue1,Article 126385

语言

英文

关键字

Cemeteries;Greenspace;Urban forestry;Visitors;Interception survey;Canopy cover;Canada

作者单位

School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Kenneth C. Rowe Management Building, 6100 University Avenue, Suite 5010, P.O. Box 15000, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada;School for School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University, Stairs House, 6230 South Street, P.O. Box 15000, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada;Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forestry, 15 Arlington Place, Suite 7, Truro, Nova Scotia, B2N 0G9, Canada;School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Kenneth C. Rowe Management Building, 6100 University Avenue, Suite 5010, P.O. Box 15000, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada;School for School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University, Stairs House, 6230 South Street, P.O. Box 15000, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada;Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forestry, 15 Arlington Place, Suite 7, Truro, Nova Scotia, B2N 0G9, Canada

摘要

The global population is becoming more urban, which has increased demand for built infrastructure. This has had negative impacts on the extent and quality of urban greenspace, including tree canopy cover. Tree-planting efforts have mainly focused on street rights-of-way, but consideration should also be given to alternative locations such as cemeteries, which are free of many of the challenges facing street trees. However, the primary function of cemeteries for the interment of human remains indicates that the social dimensions need to be considered before planting trees in these environments. We employed interception surveys and manager interviews to determine how cemetery trees are valued and what concerns people have about increasing tree cover in cemeteries in Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada).Our results indicate that cemetery users highly value cemetery trees, particularly for shade provision, aesthetics, improved personal wellbeing, and their contribution to a sense of place. These values differ somewhat from previous values obtained using street surveys, suggesting that urban-forest values depend on the environment in which surveys take place. While cemetery managers valued trees for the creation of a park-like atmosphere, they focus their efforts primarily on interring remains, preserving history, and maintaining a neat lawn. Tree maintenance is mainly reactive, and concerns such as a lack of space and the potential for damage to monuments have limited tree-planting efforts. Unlike management personnel, cemetery users have few concerns about trees in cemeteries, and we believe they would not object to more trees being planted. Given the old age of most of the trees in Halifax cemeteries, it is likely that cemetery tree cover will decline in the future due to a lack of planting and natural regeneration. Based on the high value placed on trees by cemetery users, this may have negative implications for the future role of cemeteries as urban greenspace.