Identifying indicators of sustainable management of urban forests: A qualitative approach

Urban forests are vital components of sustainable cities, providing critical ecological services and enhancing the physical and mental well-being of citizens. Their long-term preservation depends on sustainable management, yet a significant gap exists in the availability of a prioritized, empirically-grounded set of indicators for evaluating Sustainable Management of Urban Forests (SMUF). This study addresses this gap by developing and prioritizing a comprehensive set of indicators to establish a robust framework for SMUF assessment. A qualitative approach was employed, involving a two-phase process of semi-structured interviews with 32 domain experts. The first phase identified a preliminary set of indicators through thematic analysis. In the second phase, these indicators were prioritized using a direct influence matrix, where experts scored their importance. The matrices were subsequently analyzed using the MACTOR software to calculate influence weights and convergence between professional disciplines. The results identified and ranked 15 key indicators, revealing that diversity in plant species, presence of native species, conditions for citizen participation, and creation of safety and security were the most frequent, important, and convergent. In contrast, indicators such as soil conservation management and pruning damaged trees were assigned lower priority. A significant finding was the strongest convergence in perspectives between landscape architects and natural resource engineers, highlighting a shared professional consensus. This study provides a novel, structured, and actionable framework for urban planners, designers, and policymakers. The methodological approach is replicable and adaptable to diverse urban contexts. By integrating these prioritized indicators into urban forest management strategies, stakeholders can enhance civic engagement, strengthen ecological infrastructure, and advance urban sustainability goals more effectively, ultimately contributing to more livable and resilient cities.