Abstract

GARCIA GARCIA, Samuel Alberto et al. Tree characterization, damage assessment and its impact on infrastructure in a university campus. Rev. mex. de cienc. forestales [online]. 2023, vol.14, n.80, pp.105-129.  Epub Feb 05, 2024. ISSN 2007-1132.  https://doi.org/10.29298/rmcf.v14i80.1397.

The description of the structure and the knowledge of the physical and structural damages of urban trees are essential for their maintenance and conservation as well for urban planning and public safety. The objective of this analysis was to characterize the tree structure, the physical damage of the trees and the obstruction of the buildings that influence the green areas of the Facultad de Ciencias Agrícolas y Forestales de la Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua (Graduate School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences of the Autonomous University of Chihuahua) in the City of Delicias, state of Chihuahua. Indexes of richness (D Mg ) and diversity of species (H' and D) were determined and the horizontal structure was evaluated through the Importance Value Index (IVI). The morphology, the current state of the trees and the physical and structural damage present through direct observation were also analyzed. 48 species were identified, 21 were native and 27 were introduced, exhibiting a richness of 7.05 (D Mg ) and a diversity of 3.09 (H'). A density of 209 N ha-1 and a dominance of 2 318.67 m2 ha-1 were obtained. According to the IVI, the most important species were: Pinus halepensis, Thuja occidentalis, Fraxinus uhdei, Ligustrum lucidum, Sapindus drummondii, Platanus occidentalis and Morus alba, representing 48.61 % of the total. 89.25 % of the trees have a desirable morphological structure, 92.92 % have a vigorous crown and most of them are without damage, where the main deterioration sign turned out to be mainly associated with the loss of bark pieces.

Keywords : Urban green areas; urban forest; tree damage; horizontal structure; Importance Value Index (IVI); tree morphology.

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