Plants with Purpose

Summary Description:

The urban forest is widely recognised for providing multifunctional benefits for climate, people, and nature recovery, but is subject to limited diversity monitoring. This PhD seeks to address the resulting evidence gaps by establishing an Urban Forest Observatory for Scotland to evaluate the biodiversity value, ecological health, and connectivity of urban forest ecosystems.

The project aims to deliver improved understanding of how different forms of urban tree cover support ecological networks, and evidence-based approaches for nature-positive urban woodland creation and management. This work will be developed through action research with policy and delivery partners and will strengthen the role of urban forestry in Scotland’s nature recovery agenda.

This research will be embedded within RBGE’s Plants with Purpose action-research programme, which focuses on nature- and community-based solutions for urban environments and will build on the University of Stirling’s WrEN project.