by Mattia Rossi, Martina Mugnaini, Chiara Pratesi
How do cities perceive the risk of falling trees? Who is responsible for managing it, and how do different actors actually coordinate when something happens? These are some of the key questions explored by the TREESURE project in its early phase. Through Task 2.1, the project focused on understanding local needs, policies and perceptions in three pilot cities: Cecina in Italy, Soria in Spain and Brasov in Romania. Rather than starting from technology, TREESURE started from people and from the real conditions in which decisions are made.
Urban tree risk is not only a technical matter. It is influenced by how institutions interact, how citizens interpret danger and how information circulates before and after an incident. To capture this complexity, the project combined the analysis of local policy documents with surveys addressed to citizens, interviews with key actors such as risk managers and emergency responders, and a structured stakeholder mapping process. This approach made it possible to go beyond formal procedures and understand how systems actually function in practice.
Across the three cities, a number of common patterns emerged. Coordination between actors is often fragmented, with responsibilities that are not always clearly defined in operational contexts. Citizens, although directly affected by tree-related risks, are rarely integrated into structured monitoring or prevention processes and tend to play a reactive rather than proactive role. At the same time, the perception of risk does not always align with technical assessments: visible or large trees are often perceived as more dangerous, while less evident but structurally weaker ones may be underestimated. Another relevant aspect concerns the spread of misinformation after incidents, which can influence public opinion and complicate decision-making processes.
These findings are not only descriptive but play a key role in shaping the development of the TREESURE system. The insights collected will inform the design of the tabletop game scenarios, guide the development of the Decision Support System and support the creation of local stakeholder networks. By grounding the project in real needs and behaviours, TREESURE ensures that its solutions are not only innovative but also usable and relevant for those who will rely on them.
One of the main lessons from this phase is that improving urban tree risk management requires more than better data. It requires stronger collaboration between institutions, practitioners and communities, as well as tools that can bridge the gap between technical knowledge and public understanding. TREESURE builds on this perspective by combining advanced monitoring technologies with participatory approaches that actively involve local actors.
The next steps of the project will transform these insights into concrete actions. Through interactive activities and co-creation processes, stakeholders will directly contribute to shaping the tools and strategies that will be tested in the pilot cities. In this way, TREESURE continues to develop not only a technological solution, but a shared framework for more resilient and informed urban environments.