TY - JOUR

T1 - Using climate analogues and vulnerability metrics to inform urban tree species selection in a changing climate

T2 - The case for Canadian cities

AU - Esperon-Rodriguez, M.

AU - Ordoñez, C.

AU - van Doorn, N.S.

AU - Hirons, A.

AU - Messier, C.

PY - 2022/12/31

Y1 - 2022/12/31

N2 - Urban forests provide ecosystem services to more than 4.2 billion people living in cities; however, the provision of these services is threatened by climate change. Cities will experience novel, warmer climates that will impact tree species survival. Here, we present an empirical approach combining the use of climate analogues and vulnerability metrics to guide urban tree species selection. Climate analogues can be used to identify where the current climate in a given location is similar to the projected future climate of another location. Using vulnerability metrics, tree species in both locations can then be compared and species at risk of future climate change can be identified and substituted with species known to be resilient to climatic changes in the other location. Using Canadian cities as a case study, we show how our approach can become a useful tool to inform species selection and facilitate urban forest decision-making in response to climate change.

AB - Urban forests provide ecosystem services to more than 4.2 billion people living in cities; however, the provision of these services is threatened by climate change. Cities will experience novel, warmer climates that will impact tree species survival. Here, we present an empirical approach combining the use of climate analogues and vulnerability metrics to guide urban tree species selection. Climate analogues can be used to identify where the current climate in a given location is similar to the projected future climate of another location. Using vulnerability metrics, tree species in both locations can then be compared and species at risk of future climate change can be identified and substituted with species known to be resilient to climatic changes in the other location. Using Canadian cities as a case study, we show how our approach can become a useful tool to inform species selection and facilitate urban forest decision-making in response to climate change.

KW - Climate change vulnerability

KW - Climate exposure

KW - Climate risk

KW - Green infrastructure

KW - Safety margin

KW - Urban forest management

U2 - 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2022.104578

DO - 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2022.104578

M3 - Journal article

VL - 228

JO - Landscape and Urban Planning

JF - Landscape and Urban Planning

SN - 0169-2046

M1 - 104578

ER -