Culturally Significant Trees (CST) are very large trees connected with any local historical or cultural events in the cultural and urbanized landscape. CSTs are living nature monuments closely joining to local historical heritage. CSTs are also considered as key features supporting biodiversity in urbanized areas. Information related to CST occurrence in cities are important in the frame of environmental awareness of local people as well as heritage visitors. Participation of young people in field searches and assessment of CST in urban environments is also an interesting challenge for environmental education.

Students of Palacky University investigated CST occurrence in the heritage city of Olomouc (Czech Republic) under project “Tree hunters in the city” in 2023-2024. Students have found 41 CSTs in the study area. All trees were mapped and evaluated using our original software tool (as a mobile apps) for environmental assessment of cultural value of significant trees in the urban environment. Details on methodology as well as results of this research are published in the form of special interactive maps, which are freely accessible (https://parky.upol.cz/vystupy.php). Additional information included indicators of both biological and climate-mitigation functions of trees. Students suggested for each tree recommendations for conservation management of significant trees. These results can be used as a decision support tool for sustainable management of urban green spaces. Our case study should be repeated in other European heritage cities. Field mapping as well as environmental assessment of CSTs in Olomouc heritage city was funded by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic (grant no. (DH23P03OVV002) within the Programme for support of applied research in the field of national and cultural identity for the years 2023 to 2030 (NAKI III).

Keywords: Environmental education, tree searching and assessment, software tool.