Study of perception and inventory of urban trees in metropolitan area of Jalisco in a riot zone

Background/Question/Methods

The plant populations used for reforestation on public roads in urban areas provide us with important environmental services. Some of these services are capturing CO2 and air pollutants, climate maintenance, abstraction and recharge of aquifers, obtaining food, landscape for leisure activities among others. However the majority of urban reforestation in Mexico is based on providing only a harmonious landscape to the human eye, leaving aside (harmony) the integral social and ecosystem function of plant species with local society. These include contributing to regional identity as part of local history, and providing spaces more conducive to human coexistence, considering which species are more water efficient, which decreases local species further air pollutants, among many other services they provide to their environment.The aim of this study was to conduct an inventory of different plant species found in the urban area of Guadalajara with more than 1.600.940 inhabitants and know the cultural consensus. Descriptive map was performed, using dasonomic parameters a inventory for cultural consensus on species suitable for urban forestry 250 interviews were applied from 2009 to 2010 to formulate a comprehensive proposal for the reforestation of participatory public streets. 

Results/Conclusions The results show us that reforestation in the area of the medians and sidewalks is wrong. 79% of the trees do not grow beyond 5 meters in height. The less adapted is species Cassia fistula, the more common species found were Jacaranda mimosifolia (30%), Ficus benjamina (46%), Schinus terebinthifolius (10%) and Washingtonia filifera (6%).But is that 96% of respondents believe that profit from trees, 53% prefer large, leafy trees, and 40% fruit trees or shade and food service. When using the site, endemic species have poor adaptation to the type of water stress, and mainly caused by to the high competition for nutrients, due to poor planning. When the plantation (which types of stress) that are exposed, we found 29 species, 79% of them with a size of less than 5 meters (without saying how many species they found and what is its main feature: fruit, visual, introduced, endemic, etc.) We also found a cultural consensus (80%) of rejection in the species used for reforestation. In conclusion, for a successful urban forestry it is necessary to include a comprehensive approach to social and ecosystem function of plant species with local society by adding the opinions and participation of the population in all stages of planning and implementation of urban forestry.