A Process-oriented Approach to Tackling the Problem of Forest Migration under Climate Change

Rapid climate change is expected to result in migration lags in many tree species. Large-scale urbanization will impede the process of forest migration by reducing landscape connectivity. This study proposed a process-oriented approach to tackling the problem of forest migration. The focus of this approach was placed on improving the connectivity of urban landscapes for effective seed dispersal. The process-oriented approach was conducted through an iterative process of designing, testing, and refining to explore effective afforestation strategies in urban areas to increase landscape connectivity. Graph theory-based indices were used to test the effectiveness of afforestation strategies. Greater Manchester, UK was used as a case study area. The results indicated that the effectiveness of urban afforestation is strongly related to the spatial arrangement of trees across the urban matrix. In general, trees should be planted in highly connected greenspaces and high-density residential areas. The study revealed the potential of urban afforestation to facilitate forest migration and called for more attention to the importance of urban landscapes in biodiversity conservation under climate change.