Central Melbourne gets a tree change in readiness for hotter climate

Melbourne Lord Mayor (R) and Dr Dave
Kendall with an Algerian oak sapling.

Central Melbourne's streetscape is set for a marked change over the decades to come.

Many of Melbourne's established elm and plane trees are struggling to cope with rising temperatures and drier conditions.

So Melbourne City Council is gradually switching to species that will cope better with a hotter climate.

The council and Melbourne University today released a report advising which trees to plant to better prepare for climate change.

Dr Dave Kendal studied tree inventories from 200 countries and selected 875 species suitable for warmer temperatures and sub-tropical climates.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said the council commissioned the study after a startling discovery was made when scientists studied temperatures across Melbourne's greater metropolitan area.

Read the ABC story - “Central Melbourne gets a tree change in readiness for hotter climate.”