PERCEPTIONS OF TREE SURVIVABILITY AMONG LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ANALYSIS OF PROFESSIONAL MATURITY

Authors

  • Khalilah Hassan Sustainability, Urban Design, and Wellbeing Research Group, Faculty of Architecture and Ekistics, UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA KELANTAN
  • Nor Diyana Mustapa Sustainability, Urban Design, and Wellbeing Research Group, Faculty of Architecture and Ekistics, UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA KELANTAN
  • Yeo Lee Bak Sustainability, Urban Design, and Wellbeing Research Group, Faculty of Architecture and Ekistics, UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA KELANTAN
  • Siti Nuratirah Che Mohd Nasir Sustainability, Urban Design, and Wellbeing Research Group, Faculty of Architecture and Ekistics, UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA KELANTAN
  • Najah Md Alwi The Centre for Building, Construction & Tropical Architecture (BuCTA), Faculty of Built Environment, UNIVERSITI MALAYA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21837/pm.v24i43.2110

Keywords:

Urban Tree Retention, Risk Perception, Professional Maturity, Tree Survival, Urban Development

Abstract

The perception that retained trees are unlikely to survive continues to influence decision-making in urban development, often leading to their removal. This study examines the relationship between professional maturity, measured by years of field experience, and perceptions of tree survivability among landscape architects in Malaysia. A cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 265 practitioners. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to compare responses across different experience groups. The results show significant differences in skepticism across years of professional experience (p < 0.05). Practitioners with 1–5 years of experience recorded the highest agreement with the statement that retained trees are unable to survive (M = 4.21), whereas those with more than 21 years of experience reported lower agreement (M = 3.04). The findings indicate that experience is associated with differences in perceptions of tree retention outcomes. This may be attributed to the accumulation of practical knowledge and exposure to varied site conditions over time. The study suggests that differences in perception across experience levels should be addressed through knowledge sharing and continuous professional development to support more informed decision-making in tree retention practice.

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Published

2026-08-09

How to Cite

Hassan, K., Mustapa, N. D., Bak, Y. L., Che Mohd Nasir, S. N., & Md Alwi, N. (2026). PERCEPTIONS OF TREE SURVIVABILITY AMONG LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ANALYSIS OF PROFESSIONAL MATURITY. PLANNING MALAYSIA, 24(43). https://doi.org/10.21837/pm.v24i43.2110

Issue

Vol. 24 (2026): PLANNING MALAYSIA JOURNAL : Volume 24, Issue 4, 2026

Section

Article

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eISSN: 0128-0945 © Year. The Authors. Published for Malaysian Institute of Planners. This is an open-access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license.

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