Fragile nature in cities: Assessing Wind-Related Risks to Urban Trees for enhanced co-monitoring and co-maintenance practices. A Case Study in Milan, Italy

Wind is a key component of urban climate, yet it is often overlooked in urban analysis, design and management. Emerging dynamics driven by climate change make it increasingly necessary to systematically assess wind-related risks in cities. This research aims to deepen the analysis of the wind dimension in urban climate research linking the risk assessment associated with wind damage to trees and local resilience to wind influenced by uban morphology. Indeed, the recent emphasis on urban greening strategies clashes with the costs associated with the impacts of extreme weather events, highlighting the need for constant care of natural capital in highly urbanized environments where the coexistence between humans and nature is not always obvious. Starting with an examination of the consequences of two major events with strong wind that occurred in Milan, Italy, in 2022 and 2023, the study conducts a systematic analysis of urban environmenal conditions that can be assumed to induce a greater likelihood of trees falling. Investing in urban green analysis enables the tracking of vegetation's fragile condition and exposure to wind hazard events, facilitating natural capital management in the city. This, in turn, raises citizen awareness and encourages proactive behaviours like co-monitoring and co-maintenance practices.