Research is increasingly supporting the thesis that urban forests and urban trees are good for our physical and mental health. At UBC, we try to understand what the health and wellbeing impacts are, but especially also how we can design, plan and manage green spaces so that these benefits are optimized.

Urban Green Equity and its Implications for Urban Forest Management

Researchers are investigating the concept of urban green equity and its implications for urban forest management.

Designing Urban Orchards in Vancouver Laneways

Researchers have developed a series of conceptual designs of urban orchards to be implemented in laneways around Vancouver BC, on both public and private land in response to the Greenest City 2020 plan.

Investigating Scenic Beauty of Commuting Corridors

This project investigates the biophysical elements (buildings, cars, and vegetation) of commuting corridors in Vancouver, BC.

Urban trees and green spaces provide a range of benefits to local communities. These so-called ecosystems services are being identified and assessed in our research. Moreover, UBC researchers study how trees and their benefits can be maintained in urban development projects.

Studying UBC’s Urban Trees

Researchers investigate the effects of UBC’s recent development on the campus urban trees and valued tree canopy ecosystem services.

Cities and towns harbour a perhaps surprising diversity of wildlife. Urban forests and other ecosystems provide habitat that needs to be properly managed, for example to reduce negative human impacts.

Investigating the Impact of Artificial Lights on Stream Organisms

Researchers study how street lights along natural streams may change invertebrate behaviours.

Investigating How Artificial Light Disrupts Freshwater and Riparian Ecosystems

Researchers studied the role artificial light might play in disrupting freshwater and riparian ecosystems. Artificial light at night is gaining attention for its potential to alter ecosystems.

Exciting new geospatial technologies are available for assessing urban forests, their benefits, and their health. UBC researchers work closely together with municipalities to get a better overview of urban forest health.

Using LiDAR to determine urban tree condition in Surrey, BC

Researchers aim to develop new applications for airborne remote sensing in the field of urban forestry.

Detecting invasive plants in Surrey Parks

Researchers are working to establish ways to improve the city’s active program to inventory and remove invasive plant species from their parks.

Using satellite images to determine green space connectivity in Metro Vancouver

Researchers are using geospatial technology and data to produce an up-to-date, contiguous land cover classification of the Metro Vancouver area from high-resolution remote sensing data.

When trying to understand urban forest ecosystems, knowledge from fields such as forestry and ecology can be brought into an urban context. UBC researchers are world-leading within the field of forest ecology.

Studying Widespread Tree Mortality Rates in Western North America

Tree death rates have more than doubled over the last few decades in old-growth forests of the western United States and southwestern British Columbia. Researchers monitor old growth forests to determine the cause and effects of this increased mortality rate.

Determining the Age and Growth Rate of Trees

Working with Metro Vancouver, researchers determined the age and growth rates of lodgepole pine trees near Burns Bog in Vancouver, BC.

Managing Disease with Genomics Approaches

The TAIGA project (Tree Aggressor Identification using Genomics Approaches) harnessed the power of genomics to identify the causal agents of tree diseases and tailor management.

The management of urban forests and trees requires special approaches, adapted to the challenges associated with urban sites. Urban forest management research at UBC ranges from dealing with invasive species to development to finding innovative ways of promoting biodiversity and other benefits.

Investigating Coquitlam Watershed’s Western Hemlock Looper Outbreaks

Researchers investigated the causes of western hemlock looper outbreaks and the impacts of defoliation on forest structure and composition in Coquitlam, BC.

Detecting invasive plants in Surrey Parks

Researchers are working to establish ways to improve the Surrey’s active program to inventory and remove invasive plant species from their parks.

Plant Biodiversity of the Richmond Nature Park Bog

Researchers are determining the effects of human disturbances and invasion of exotic species on biodiversity within the Lulu Island Bog in Richmond.

The involvement of local residents is an important part of urban forestry, at collaborative approaches build trust, bring in local knowledge, and raise awareness of urban forestry issues. Development of approaches and tools for public involvement is an important part of urban forestry research at UBC

Creating a multimedia soil map for Vancouver

The Multimedia Soil Map of Vancouver is an educational tool for gathering knowledge of local soils, in order to learn more about Vancouver’s environment and participate in the ever-growing urban agriculture and forestry movement.

Promoting Science Citizenship through a Soil App

Digging In: An Educational Tool Promoting Science Citizenship for the Introduction to Soil Science.

Connecting Communities with Tools to Understand Local Fire Risk

The remote sensing team has developed an easy to use app for foresters and researchers concerned with fire risk near urban areas to better understand the fuel layer and its components.