Roadside trees in urban Hong Kong: Part IV tree growth and environmental condition

Abstract

The large volume of quantitative data on street-trees in urban Hong Kong obtained in a recent tree census has been analyzed using mainly statistical and graphical methods with the aid of a microcomputer. The study aims at acquiring a better understanding of the varied relationship between tree growth and environmental condition in an exceptionally high-density urban milieu. The multiple modes of physical constraints to roadside trees, quite rampant in the local street habitats, have been evaluated with reference to species composition, as well as 19 attributes grouped under site characteristics, growing space, site dimension, and tree dimension. The results can shed lights on species selection vis-à-vis the numerous site difficulties for future planting programmes, including the provision of new planting sites, and help the management of the existing stock.