Abstract
Health assessment and planting site investigation of old valuable trees ,would be carry out in one of a county government in Taiwan, which is chosen based on cooperation of the organizer. The assessment include: (1) Evaluation of the usual care and management, involving pruning and the use of fertilizer and insecticides. (2) Planting site investigation of the coverage with cement or asphalt or other retaining structure that restrict root growth. Soil samples would be collected randomly from 7 points inside drip-line of the tree, with around 0-30cm depth, and later be analyzed for nutrients deficiency problems. (3) Assessment on pests and diseases on the tree and the other potential threatened biotic factors around 50m away would also be considered. (4) Measurement and record of the general growth condition, including tree height, trunk diameter at breast height, etc. Trunk rot condition would also be investigated with the aid of machine. Samples would be collected for the cultivation and identification of tree rot fungi. (5) Assessment results would be sent to the management office, as the base of adjustment on the following management plan. (6) Further research on the control of most common pests and diseases or other biotic factors, for the reference for tree protection in Taiwan.
Rapid urbanization has led to deterioration issues of the urban living environment, such as excessive land development and utilization, environmental pollution, drastic reduction in the quantity and diversity of green resources. Due to the shortage of green space in the metropolitan area, botanical gardens, parks, and campuses as well as the urban green belts that exist around the roads have become the main leisure place for the people. As a result, the usage rate of green space in the city, which trees are planted in busy areas, is extremely frequent. From the viewpoint of risk assessment, in such spaces,accidents may cause serious consequences. However, urban trees are often faced with harsh challenges due to the habitats, microclimates, and limiting factors are way different from their original and adaptive environment. Besides, urban planning or human factors could cause threats to their health. Moreover, there is lack of scientific data of soil hardening and pest management. Therefore, the purpose of this project is to promote the overall health condition of the urban forest by exploring the urban tree health management, tree living environment assessment, and soil health management. Finally, this project will build a data-sharing platform constructed with the scientific quantified benefits of urban forest indicators that will facilitate public knowledge to quickly understand the economic and health value of urban forests. Our results will be applicable for those policies relating to improvements in the management of urban forests and therefore will be beneficial to the overall health of the urban forest and the safety of the citizens. Biodiversity in cities is capable of reducing the pressure derived from the environmental change. Birds will be used to discuss management of urban biodiversity because birds represent a good indicator of biodiversity.The data of avian distribution was rapidly accumulated in Taiwan by citizen science. By comparing the civic survey data in the greenspace, suburban and lowland forest of Taipei city, we can analyze the avian composition and functional diversity. The relationship between bird functional diversity and landscape heterogeneity will be conducted to understand important environmental factors in urban ecosystem. Trees can bring benefits to various ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and air purification, there are many tools for assessing the benefits of urban tree ecosystem services, which can monetize the benefits of urban trees. However, the development of each tool is based on the country's climatic conditions, environment, type of trees and economic level, which would cause bias if used directly, there would be limitations when applying the tool in Taiwan, and requires further adjustment. Therefore, this study is conducting a survey on the growth pattern such as the diameter at breast height, height, crown size and volume. This study is also monitoring the annual growth rate, and will establish allometric equations based on the result of the investigation, to provide localized equations to estimate the ecosystem services benefits of tree in Taiwan.
The invasive pest, litchi stink bug ( Tessaratoma papillosa ) not only impacts on the agricultural environments but also on forest and ecology, especially on its host plants, the soapberry family (Sapindaceae) including litchi, longan, soapberry ( Sapindus saponaria ), and Taiwan golden rain tree ( Koelreuteria henryi ). The pest can move among the four trees mention above, and invade in the orchards during their blossom during spring and summer from the longan trees of the mountainous area at low altitude or the abandoned longan orchards.This movement habit of the pests indicated that taking control measures in the litchi and longan orchards during fall and winter after harvest season are doomed to failure because the pests are already leave the orchards.The host trees for the pest in urban and peri-urban mountainous areas are usually taller than ones in orchards, so it is important to find an efficient and environment-friendly measure, or a strategy at least, to control the pests. According to the results of this project, we will finally produce leaflets on new scientific knowledge and better control measures for the pests in the non-agricultural areas for education to the general public.