Transcript:

Life can be hard for trees in the city.

They may have little space for their roots to spread, and can be vulnerable to invasive pests and disease. And as the climate warms, more extreme heat and drought threaten tree health.

Rollinson: “And those are both worse in urban environments.”

But Christy Rollinson, senior scientist in forest ecology at the Morton Arboretum near Chicago, says the threats vary across a city.

Rollinson: “You’ve got those trees that are in the parking lot. … You’ve got trees in a park. And each of those are going to experience slightly different conditions.”

So her team is gathering data on which tree species better tolerate stresses such as an occasional drought or flooding, and which are more likely to thrive in specific kinds of places – like along a busy road, under utility lines, or in people’s backyards.

And they’re sharing that data online to help cities, nurseries, and homeowners identify the best trees to plant.

Her team also uses satellite data to monitor the urban forest in the Chicago area. She says they’ll use that data to identify areas stressed by drought. With that information, cities and towns can prioritize watering where it’s needed most.

So the region’s urban forest can grow and thrive even as the climate warms.

Reporting credit: Sarah Kennedy / ChavoBart Digital Media