Twelve year change in tree diversity and spatial segregation in the Mediterranean city of Santiago, Chile
Author
dc.contributor.author
Hernández Palma, Héctor
Author
dc.contributor.author
Villaseñor, Nélida R.
Admission date
dc.date.accessioned
2018-08-06T20:22:07Z
Available date
dc.date.available
2018-08-06T20:22:07Z
Publication date
dc.date.issued
2018
Cita de ítem
dc.identifier.citation
Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 29 (2018): 10–18
es_ES
Identifier
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2017.10.017
Identifier
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https://repositorio.uchile.cl/handle/2250/150682
Abstract
dc.description.abstract
Tree diversity is one of the most important components of urban ecosystems, because it provides multiple
ecological benefits and contributes to human well-being. However, the distribution of urban trees may be
spatially segregated and change over time. To provide insights for a better distribution of tree diversity in a
socially segregated city, we evaluated spatial segregation in the abundance and diversity of trees by socioeconomic
group and their change over a 12-year period in Santiago, Chile. Two hundred vegetation plots were
sampled across Santiago in 2002 and 2014. We found that overall abundance and diversity of urban trees for the
entire city were stable over 12 years, whereas species richness and abundance of native tree species increased.
There was segregation in tree species richness and abundance by socioeconomic group, with wealthier areas
having more species and greater abundance of trees (for all tree species and native species) than poorer ones.
Tree community composition and structure varied with socioeconomic group, but we found no evidence of
increased homogenization of the urban forest in that 12 years. Our findings revealed that although tree diversity
and abundance for the entire city did not change in our 12-year period, there were important inequities in
abundance and diversity of urban trees by socioeconomic group. Given that 43% of homes in Santiago are in the
lower socioeconomic areas, our study highlights the importance of targeting tree planting, maintenance and
educational programs in these areas to reduce inequalities in the distribution of trees.
es_ES
Patrocinador
dc.description.sponsorship
FONDECYT (project No. 1140319
“Vegetation Knowledge-based Indicators for Urban Sustainable
Planning”, CONICYT, Chile). FONDEF D00I–1078 financed previous
data collection. NRV is supported by FONDECYT (project No. 3170179,
CONICYT, Chile).