Street Trees in High-Density Urban Hong Kong

Abstract

High-density urban Hong Kong has a small population of street trees. A survey of 930 trees in two districts provide information on tree characteristics and for management. Of the 55 species encountered, few are numerically dominant and currently cultivated. The rare species are mainly woodland or garden relics. Species selection is shifting from native/large to introduced/small. Some popular species are not quite suitable for streets; a few rare voluntary species perform well. Most trees are concentrated along a few roads where growth space is available. Plantable space is a major bottleneck. The distribution of trees by growth type, position, and proximal landuse are discussed. Most trees have narrow crowns and are short-statured, suggesting a youthful population and/or a recent trend to plant small species. Two-thirds have arboricultural problems. Lack of tree data and of regular inspections make planning for tree care difficult. Maintenance is grossly inadequate due to lack of skilled workers. The poor tree health and defects are likely to persist.