Accommodating a tree asset register of street trees in a local government authority setting

Abstract

Purpose:

The purpose of this study is to consider how a local government authority may present a tree asset register of street trees for the decision-making of the authority's stakeholders.

Design/methodology/approach:

Using the tenets of population density theory, urban form theory and social stratification theory, the approach of the study is to develop a tree asset register in a local government authority's setting that could be modelled using many different attributes to derive important information for decision-making purposes.

Findings:

Tree asset registers represent a critical tool in managing street trees across local government authorities.

Research limitations/implications:

Although the efficacy of an asset tree register may be curtailed by lack of internal audit or yearly updates, the practical consequence of an asset tree register is that local administrators may use the register to gather summarised, organised and parsimonious measures of a wide range of environmental, historical, cultural, aesthetic and scientific values of street trees.

Practical implications:

Tree asset registers affords ratepayers, developers, tree managers and valuers a technology to plan, coordinate and manage street trees to support ecosystem services.

Social implications:

Asset tree registers offer planners a means to bring about sustainable change management.

Originality/value:

The originality of the study rests in introducing tree registers as a means to meet diverse strategies for street tree management by interested stakeholders.