This book represents the latest research on urban forestry in a
Malaysian context. It demonstrates that urban forestry is concerned not
only with environmental enhancement, but also other aspects, such as
recreation, health and well-being, and government policies. This edited
collection provides a comprehensive overview of urban forestry studies
from various researchers in Malaysia, and includes rich historical
perspectives of urban forestry in the country. It also tackles related
issues in policy. The greening of urban Malaysia in the 1970s focused
primarily on beautification and was primarily the province of
horticulturists, landscapers, nursery workers, town planners, and
architects, with negligible inputs from foresters, particularly urban
foresters. Perhaps for that reason, the term "landscaping" has been used
more widely than "urban forestry" by government and private
institutions, politicians, stakeholders, academicians, and the public.
Nevertheless, the authors show that the concept of urban forestry is not
new for developing countries such as Malaysia, where urbanization is
increasing at a rapid rate. The book unpacks this demographic shift from
a predominantly rural to a principally urban society. As the only
unified body of work on urban forestry and arboricultural studies in
Malaysia, this volume presents an important interdisciplinary reference
for students, researchers, and scholars in physical geography, forestry
and urban forestry, arboriculture and landscape architecture, both in
Malaysia, and in other developing urbanizing countries, particularly in
Southeast Asia. It is also an important resource for those working in
environmental policy and practice, excavating the vital connection
between the environment and well-being.
