Urban forests should be treated as ‘essential infrastructure’ amid climate crisis - Bangor University

Urban forests should be treated as “essential infrastructure” for cities, a global team of scientists has said.

A new study, led by Dr Manuel Esperon-Rodriguez, an urban ecologist at Bangor University, has issued a warning amid a summer that has seen a brutal heat wave grip Europe, breaking temperature records across the continent.

The paper, published by Public Library Science, argues that despite cities coming under increasing strain due to rising global temperatures one of our most effective forms of climate infrastructure is being lost.

It argues that immediate and sustained investment along with legal protection is crucial to safeguard urban forests, which includes both individual trees and woodland in cities, towns and suburbs, and that without key changes to the way they are managed, the ecological, social, and economic benefits they provide will remain under threat.

Dr Manuel Esperon-Rodriguez, a Lecturer at Bangor University’s School of Environmental and Natural Sciences said, “The importance of ‘gray infrastructure’ such as roads, bridges and water systems has long been recognised. However, the importance of urban nature is severely overlooked by comparison. So, while ‘grey infrastructure’ is governed by engineering standards because society recognises that safety cannot depend on good intentions alone, there aren’t equivalent standards in place for urban nature. It’s clear that urban forests are not merely green amenities that are nice to have. They support critical ecosystem functioning and services vital for healthy, resilient cities.”