Trend Watch February 2025

Sleeping Seeds May Be at Risk as a Result of Climate Change

Researchers for the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership coordinated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK, say climate change may be affecting seed dormancy for many UK tree species and, consequently, the regeneration of forests.

“Seed dormancy ensures that seeds do not germinate even when environmental conditions like water availability, light and temperature might seem right. Instead, the seed waits until those conditions are reliably good for growth, preventing seeds from sprouting in winter or during short warm spells where the long-term conditions would be too harsh for a seedling to survive,” they write.

In the UK trees like black alder, birch and Scots pine depend on a chilling period during winter to break seed dormancy and prepare for spring germination. As temperatures rise these seeds may either fail to break dormancy, delaying or preventing germination, or they may germinate too early, exposing seedlings to frost.

The researchers are studying how different tree species’ seeds respond to various environmental conditions. By testing seeds collected across the UK under varying temperatures, scientists are modelling how future climates will impact germination.

This research helps identify which tree populations are most at risk and informs conservation strategies for climate-resilient forests. It can also be applied to support tree nurseries in successfully producing more seedlings, faster, to help both conservation and forestry efforts. Read the Kew article.

Trends to Watch Reshaping the Future of Cities and Urban Living

Global leaders of Gensler’s Cities & Urban Design practice, based in the US and UK, discuss opportunities and challenges for cities undergoing significant transformation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To attract and retain a sustainable population and local economy, CBDs and downtown areas would benefit from adopting centralised models that support new patterns of living, working and mobility, say Andre Brumfield, Ian Mulcahey and Christopher Rzomp.

“The era of rigid zonal segregation is over. No longer can a city be simply divided into a series of discrete places: the place where I work, the place where I live, and the place where I want to spend my leisure time. This simplistic planning notion is about to change,” said Ian Mulcahey, Cities & Urban Design Leader, Strategy Director, Principal.

Remote and hybrid work cause people to spend more time in their neighbourhoods, increasing demand for local services, green spaces and social infrastructure. To compete, traditional office districts need to evolve into live-work-play destinations, blending residential, commercial and cultural functions.

Green and open spaces will play a key role in dense urban areas in improving wellbeing and climate resilience, they say. These public spaces should be flexible, serving multiple functions from recreation to social gatherings, while being adaptable to climate challenges.

Read the Gensler article for their take on trending resilient, localised and adaptable urban environments.