A dataset on forest stand structures, deadwood, and tree-related microhabitats along an urban-periurban gradient in Central Italy

This database provides accessible and georeferenced information on forest structure, tree-related microhabitats, and deadwood of 12 urban forests located in 12 different urban parks across three Italian cities, Florence, Rome, and Campobasso. Four urban parks – varying in size, forest type, and history – were selected following an urban-periurban gradient in each city. Inner city parks are typically ancient, with native and non-native trees planted for aesthetic and cultural purposes, and scarce semi-natural vegetation remains. Periurban parks usually host native and semi-natural vegetation and may include agricultural areas. 15 plots were placed to survey a selected urban forest located in each of the 12 urban parks, using a systematic aligned sampling scheme and then visited in the field, for a total of 180 plots. The collected data contributed to the construction of three different datasets. Two tree-level datasets present information on tree-related microhabitats and dendrometric variables including tree species, diameter at breast height, tree height, height-to-base of the live crown, tree volume, and tree basal area. The deadwood dataset presents information on five categories of deadwood, particularly snags, standing dead trees, coarse woody debris, stumps, and dead downed trees, where height, diameter, and decay status were sampled. Other research can employ these data to integrate and compare databases from different cities and forest types. Additionally, data can be linked to future analyses of urban forest fauna (e.g., beetle and bird communities) and updated to assess variability over time as well as employed in landscape analysis to guide improved management actions.