Animals & nature · 2024
Which benefits of urban trees were linked to Perth residents’ attachment to where they live?
Greater satisfaction with trees’ contribution to a sense of place, social interaction and fresh air was linked to stronger attachment to where residents lived. This finding came from a survey of 638 residents in metropolitan Perth, Western Australia, comparing their reported satisfaction and attachment across homes, streets and neighbourhoods. It does not show that these tree benefits caused stronger attachment.
Details
The study explored how urban trees relate to the emotional bonds people have with where they live. Researchers combined residents’ survey responses with geographic data measuring how much ground was covered by tree branches and leaves, then used statistical modelling to examine relationships among those measurements, residents’ perceptions, satisfaction and attachment.
Residents who were more satisfied with the sense of place, opportunities for social interaction and fresh air associated with trees also reported stronger attachment. Measured tree cover was related to attachment and satisfaction both directly and through residents’ perceptions of urban trees. The abstract does not report how large these relationships were.
Residents’ written feedback also illustrated how trees can contribute to a place’s meaning and how losing them can be distressing. This was an observational case study in metropolitan Perth, not a test of whether planting or removing trees changes attachment.
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