ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines why ancient and other veteran trees in urban areas should be identified and managed to avoid harm, damage or injury that might induce stress or accelerate the tree aging process and therefore compromise tree longevity and biodiversity. Understanding the aging process is important for determining the type and level of management intervention for trees in all age classes. However this is particularly relevant for aging trees due to their increasing vulnerability to rapid changes affecting the crown or root system, leading to critical decline. Reducing the risks to veteran trees from traumatic branch, stem or root failure is a fundamental aspect of longevity management. By understanding the history of large old trees, managers and arborists can contribute to their preservation by informing planners, designers and developers about ways to modify development footprints and adapt road systems on sites with mature or veteran trees that may become ancient trees of the future.
