Characteristics of Urban Park Trees in Hong Kong in Relation to Greenspace Planning and Development

Abstract

The compact urban form of Hong Kong leaves scant rooms for greenery, with limited acreage designated as urban parks. Such precious greenspaces have not been fully utilized to fulfil amenity and ecological functions. Trees in ten major urban parks in the city core were comprehensively surveyed. Parks vary greatly in terms of sylvan endowment and planting design, with the majority beset by low stocking density, species with small final biomass, and conspicuous bias towards bland, common and exotic species. Seventeen specific recommendations have been proposed to improve the quantity and quality of the park tree population to meet modern and changing demands of the city.