| Summary: | Urban trees are a valuable asset for urban sustainability and provide a number of social and ecological functions. However, urban trees are exposed to intentional vandalism, which can cause poor tree growth and high mortality rates. This issue is particularly difficult to combat because urban tree managers have no way of identifying the characteristics of a tree that may increase the likelihood of vandalism. This study analyzes the data from 118 samples of 33 public reports of tree vandalism in order to understand better the criteria that affect tree vandalism in the Kajang district. A local public compliant database was used to assess which types of trees were vandalized more frequently. The data applied a quantitative analysis, and the social trends around urban tree vandalism were examined. This study discovered that three tree characteristics increased the likelihood of vandalism: the tree's position, the tree's values, and the tree's condition; these characteristics showed a strong positive correlation with urban tree vandalism. This study is intended to guide urban tree managers and tree caregivers to improve tree planting programs in order to ensure the sustainability of trees in urban areas. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.
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