Naslov
Tree failure after windstorm in Zagreb mature urban forests

Autori
Paulić, Vinko ; Drvodelić, Damir ; Oršanić, Milan

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Skup
21st European Forum on Urban Forestry (EFUF2018)

Mjesto i datum
Helsinki, Finska, 15.05.2018. - 19.05.2018

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
Tree failure ; Windstorm ; Tree risk assessment ; Tree defects

Sažetak
Urban forests and trees provide many benefits and contribute to the quality of life and well-being of urban dwellers. However, trees can also pose serious risk of physical injury, property damage and disruption of activities due to failure of its parts. In order to minimize the risk of such events, regular tree risk assessments are recommended as part of the risk management process. Climate change has significantly increased the severity and frequency of disturbance events to forest ecosystems and this upward trend is expected to continue in the future. Wind is the most severe disturbance agent in forests. Windstorms can incur severe damage to urban areas due to the proximity of urban forests and the presence of many targets. The aim of this research was to compare tree risk assessment results before a major windstorm, as well as wind damage that occurred in mature urban forests after the mentioned single extreme weather event. Tree risk assessment using visual methods was performed over 14, 2 ha of four mature (age > 140 years) urban forests dominated by sessile oak in the City of Zagreb. Several months later, on 11th November 2013, a windstorm that hit the broader Zagreb caused considerable damage to forests and the city infrastructure was severely affected by tree failures. After this extreme weather event, a post-storm assessment re-survey of tree failures was conducted in the previously assessed forests. The presence of dead branches and the restricted root area were major defects that contributed the most to pre storm tree risk assessment rating in all the assessed locations. According to the post-storm survey, only a small percentage of trees in mature urban forests failed. The dominant tree failure mode was due to branch failure or severe crown damage, with uprooting also accounting for high percentage of tree failures. Uprooting was often related to conditions that restricted root development. The findings related to the mentioned windstorm event may be helpful for future tree risk assessment activities and may improve mature urban forests management by reducing the possibility of damage occurrence.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Šumarstvo

POVEZANOST RADA