Arboronomy: Foundational Definition of Arboronomy

This publication presents a foundational definition of arboronomy, an emerging applied, interdisciplinary field concerned with the intentional optimization of ecosystem service production by existing trees under real-world conditions. Arboronomy addresses a structural gap between arboriculture, urban forestry, ecology, and climate adaptation by reframing existing trees as dynamic, management-responsive systems whose functional performance—such as cooling, carbon sequestration, and other ecosystem services—can be deliberately influenced over time. The document defines the core problem space, the object of study, the analytical perspective, the purpose, the boundaries, and the normative dimension of the field. It establishes arboronomy as a performance-oriented, decision-focused framework designed to support warranted judgment and proactive intervention under conditions of uncertainty, climatic stress, and institutional constraint. This text serves as a referential, foundational contribution intended to anchor authorship, provide conceptual clarity, and enable further research, methodological development, and critical engagement.