Mattia Rossi, Martina Mugnaini, Chiara Pratesi
Tree risk is not only a technical issue—it is also a matter of perception. But how closely does public perception match real risk? This question sits at the core of TREESURE’s work in Task 2.1, where citizens across Cecina, Soria and Brasov were directly involved to better understand how people experience and interpret the presence of trees in their everyday environments.
Urban trees are part of daily life. They provide shade, improve air quality and contribute to the identity of public spaces. At the same time, they can also be perceived as potential sources of danger, especially in the aftermath of extreme weather events. Understanding this dual perception is essential for designing effective and accepted risk management strategies.
To explore this dimension, TREESURE collected data through surveys addressed to the general public in each pilot city. Participants were asked about their awareness of tree-related risks, their experience with past incidents, their trust in local authorities and their exposure to information on the topic.
The results reveal a complex and sometimes contradictory picture. On one side, there is a general awareness that trees can pose risks under certain conditions, particularly during storms or extreme weather. On the other, this awareness is often shaped more by visibility and personal experience than by technical knowledge.
Large or highly visible trees are frequently perceived as more dangerous, regardless of their actual structural condition. At the same time, less visible trees—perhaps located in less frequented areas—may receive less attention, even when they present higher levels of risk. This mismatch between perception and reality highlights a key challenge for urban risk management.
Another important aspect concerns trust. Citizens rely on local authorities to manage urban trees safely, but their level of trust can vary depending on communication and past experiences. When information is clear and accessible, trust tends to increase. When communication is limited or unclear, uncertainty can grow, sometimes leading to stronger reactions or demands for immediate action.
The role of information becomes even more critical in the aftermath of an incident. The research highlights how misinformation or incomplete information can spread quickly, influencing public perception and shaping collective responses. In some cases, this can lead to pressure for actions that are not aligned with technical assessments, such as unnecessary tree removal or misinterpretation of risk levels.
These findings underline the importance of communication as a core component of risk management. It is not enough to monitor trees and assess their condition; it is equally important to ensure that information is shared in a way that is understandable, transparent and timely.
For TREESURE, this means designing tools that do not only support technical decision-making, but also help bridge the gap between expert knowledge and public perception. By integrating citizen perspectives into the process, the project aims to create solutions that are not only effective, but also trusted and accepted by the communities they are meant to serve.
In the next article, we will move closer to the operational side of tree risk management, exploring how practitioners and emergency responders deal with these challenges in real-life situations.