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Short Abstract

Citizen science reveals heatwave-driven tree drying in Bucharest, offering a scalable model for urban planning and management. The presented results are part of a nationally funded project in Romania - Enhancing social equity in urban planning through citizen science.

Abstract

Climate change is a significant challenge in urban ecosystems, with heatwaves and droughts severely impacting vegetation health. In cities like Bucharest, the urban heat island phenomenon intensifies these stressors, accelerating tree health decline and reducing ecosystem services. This study examines the implementation of citizen science as a tool for monitoring the impacts of climate-induced heat stress on urban trees.

During the summer season in 2022 and 2025, fifteen Environmental Science students, both bachelor's and master's, conducted a participatory mapping campaign across 135 primary and secondary streets in Bucharest. Following initial training, students used the ArcGIS Survey123 mobile app to document tree species, size, and health, identifying over 3,000 trees as either partially (over 50%) or completely dried. A team of three experts randomly validated the collected data to ensure accuracy.

The most affected species were Linden, Ash, Plane, and Maple, with approximately 7% of trees unidentifiable due to advanced degradation or removal. Only 25% of the dried trees exhibited signs of pruning, while 75% lacked visible stressors other than exposure to extreme heat, suggesting a strong correlation with recent heatwaves.

The results highlight the value of citizen science in rapidly collecting large-scale, spatially distributed environmental data. This approach enhances urban climate monitoring and also fosters public engagement and environmental stewardship. The study advocates for the scalability and replicability of participatory mapping as a cost-effective strategy for assessing the impact of climate change on urban vegetation, offering a model for other cities aiming to build resilience through inclusive, data-driven environmental governance.