Deadwood in the Suburban Landscape: Resident preferences for woody debris management in suburban woodlands and woodland edges in Southern Ontario

Deadwood or woody debris is a key element for biodiversity and ecosystem productivity; offering habitat and improving soil health. It is removed by residents and forest managers due to negative preferences for it, leading to a reduction in forest biodiversity. Introducing deadwood into suburban woodland edges and woodlands offers a chance to improve forest ecosystems adjacent to urban sprawl development in Southern Ontario. A photographic questionnaire completed by residents living on or near suburban edges was used to evaluate if different forms of deadwood at a high or low quantity produced unique preferences based on its location within a suburban woodland edge or a woodland. Results suggest deadwood adding cohesion due to size and arrangement are preferred. This suggests that retention of cohesive pieces of deadwood is a preferred way to integrate deadwood into the suburban landscape.