New records of monumental trees in the City of Bari (Apulia, Italy)

Abstract

Monumental trees are a unique component of biodiversity that should be protected, managed, and valued just like stone monuments, historic centers, and grand architectural structures. In this paper we documented the presence of three old trees of Cupressus cashmeriana and one tree of Populus nigra, whose morphological and dendrometric parameters meets the criteria established to attribute the character of monumentality. Considering also their ecological and cultural importance, we propose the inclusion of these monumental trees in the regional and national lists.