In this section, we’ll explore how to filter tree species based on climate zones using the Global Useful Native Trees (GlobUNT) tool. This filtering process is essential for tailoring species lists to match the specific environmental conditions of your planting site.
How GlobUNT's filtering by climate works
GlobUNT provides several climate filtering options, each designed to help users refine their species lists based on key environmental parameters. These options use data from well known climate databases, such as the Tree Globally Observed Environmental Ranges (TreeGOER) database, the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), and others.
Key filtering options
Bioclimatic Zones: Filter species based on the bioclimatic zone of the planting site using the TreeGOER database. You can determine the zone using resources such as the TreeGOER Global Zones Atlas or the CitiesGOER database, which documents climate data for over 52,000 cities worldwide.
Holdridge Life Zones: Filter species by biotemperature and precipitation classes using the TreeGOER Holdridge Life Zone, which categorizes global climate into distinct life zones based on climate parameters.
Köppen-Geiger Climate Zones: Refine the species list using Köppen-Geiger climate zones, as documented by TreeGOER Köppen-Geiger Zone Distributions which documents historical and contemporary climate patterns worldwide.
Whittaker Biome Types: Apply additional filtering based on terrestrial biome classifications, which group ecosystems by factors such as temperature, precipitation, and vegetation type.
In the next pages, we will follow Aisha as she filters species based on her local climate conditions using each of the filtering options above. Aisha is working on a restoration project in a semi-arid region and wants to ensure the species she selects can thrive in this environment.