Abstract

Since ancient times, trees and vegetation have been integral to urban spaces, appreciated for their ecosystem services and socio-ecological benefits. Paradoxically, urban sprawl has historically been a significant driver of forest loss. Consequently, there are few examples where original primary forests and native tree individuals have not been affected by urban expansion. In south-central Chile (37–40°S) it is still possible to find remnant old-growth forests near some urban areas. While these forests are recognized as relicts of a once extensive ecosystem altered by human activity, little attention has been given to the large native trees within urban boundaries. We studied large native tree individuals of four species from the original forest within the urban area of Temuco city, founded in 1881 (38°S, 282 thousand inhabitants). Including data from a nearby remnant undisturbed forest (?12 km away), we systematically identified and characterized the size and age of large native trees. Using dendrochronological methods and mixed effect models, we developed diameter-age relationships for each species, contrasting diameter growth patterns between urban and forest individuals. We found large native trees with diameters at breast-height (1.3 m) up to 127 cm in the city and 133 cm in the forest. Forest trees were generally older, some over 500 years, while urban trees showed a more uniform age structure, with a median breast-height age of 145 years across species. Urban trees exhibited faster growth rates and larger diameters at equivalent ages compared to their forest counterparts. Our findings confirm that large trees from the original forest persist within the urban boundaries, contributing to ecosystem complexity despite over a century of human influence. Further research should focus on understanding how these heritage trees, like biological legacies, have survived and adapted to a changing environment while highlighting their potential as powerful symbols of conservation in urban landscapes. © 2025 Elsevier GmbH