Volume and the urban forest: The vegetal politics of urban forestry contestations in Melbourne and Darwin, Australia

Abstract

In this paper we take inspiration from geographies of volume to consider the drivers effecting tree canopy expansion in two Australian cities: Melbourne and Darwin. Presenting empirical material collected via semi-structed interviews with city residents and urban forest workers labouring with the urban forest, we contribute qualitative understanding about efforts to expand urban forests, understanding that has predominantly been captured through a quantitative lens. In so doing, we consider the vegetal politics of urban forestry practices that contrast with imaginations of bounded city space presented in policy, and which challenge efforts to increase tree canopy volume. To do this, we draw ..