Abstract

ZARAGOZA HERNANDEZ, Alejandra Yunuen et al. Identification of tree damages of three parks of Mexico City. Rev. mex. de cienc. forestales [online]. 2015, vol.6, n.32, pp.63-82. ISSN 2007-1132.

Forest health indicators allow the diagnosis of the general health condition of the woods and the evolution of damages in them; at the tree level, they measure the type, location, and severity of any injury caused by diseases, insects, storms, and human activities. In order to test its effectiveness, the methodology used and reported by the National Forest and Soil Inventory and the Forest Inventory Analysis with particular adaptations was applied in the urban area. The sampling sites were established in the Alameda Norte, Alameda Oriente and Alameda Sur of Mexico City. Three samplings were carried out during the spring to fall seasons (May to October, 2011) and one sampling during the winter season (November 2011 to January 2012). The type of damage, the tree damage frequency, the Damage Severity Index (DSI) and the damage spatial distribution within the parks were estimated. Overall, vandalism was identified as the main damage within the three parks. Both, in Alameda Norte and in Alameda Sur a high number of dead standing trees was found. Anthropogenic activities and a poor maintenance were related to the main tree damages, regardless of the forest species diversity. The high DSI values were observed in trees affected by mistletoe, while the lower values came from vandalized trees.

Keywords : Abiotic; urban park; trees; biotic; anthropogenic factors; vandalism.

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