ARBOUR: ARBOR URBIS. Street trees and their ecosystem services for improving urban quality

ARBOUR: ARBOR URBIS. Street trees and their ecosystem services for improving urban quality. The present PhD project, carried out in accordance with the objectives of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), in collaboration with Bindi Secondo s.r.l., has developed multidisciplinary research aimed at analyzing street trees from a floristic, ecological and historical perspective in the Lazio region. The activity was structured into various research themes: the results of which have been published in various international scientific publications. The first phase involved an in-depth evaluation of street tree biodiversity in the municipalities of Rome, with particular attention to the floristic profile, while not neglecting broader assessments of street tree planting conditions and management. The analysis was subsequently extended to the regional level, where a systematic evaluation of street tree floristic richness was carried out in urban areas of Lazio within its provinces (Frosinone, Latina, Rieti, Roma, Viterbo), together with the analysis of specific species suitability in relation to urban environment characteristics. For the historical-cultural aspects related to trees, their significance in the ancient world was explored in parallel, first through the study of tree representations in the Etruscan tombs of the WHS-UNESCO site of Tarquinia and then, moving to the Renaissance and Modern period, through the reconstruction of tree-lined streets and gardens of the now-disappeared Villa Peretti Montalto, in the area now occupied by Rome's Termini station. The project finally led to the development of a theoretical framework for evaluating ecosystem services provided by urban street trees and to the elaboration of a multifactorial evaluation methodology for selecting native tree species. The overall analysis highlighted how effective management of urban tree heritage necessarily requires an integrated approach that considers the historical dimension, contemporary needs, and future challenges. Although Rome and the Lazio region present high biodiversity in street trees, current selection practices tend to prioritize practical aspects over ecological functionalities. This multidimensional understanding of tree heritage in urban areas, which integrates historical representations with contemporary practices, constitutes the foundation for developing more sustainable and culturally aware urban green management strategies.