Unlock the Benefits: How Campus Tree Coverage Boosts Health and the Environment

At the University, a dedicated team cares for over 5,000 trees. They keep track of these trees in a database that highlights their benefits for both the environment and human health. In 2024, they added 151 new trees to their inventory.

This database measures the size of each tree trunk and collects information about local weather and air quality. With this data, it calculates how much the trees help our environment and health over time.

For instance, campus trees can absorb an impressive 715,661 pounds of carbon dioxide each year. That’s like taking 76 cars off the road for a year, based on estimates from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Looking ahead, in 20 years, these trees could absorb about 16.3 million pounds of carbon dioxide. This long-term impact showcases the essential role trees play in combating climate change.

Jim Carse, the assistant director of landscape services, noted that since the urban forestry team started mapping trees nine years ago, the database has encouraged students and staff to connect with the green spaces on campus. However, he mentioned the data has not been updated since 2016, calling it a “snapshot in time.”

Jennifer Hrobar, the urban forestry supervisor, acknowledged that keeping the database current with a small team of five is quite challenging. As trees grow, the estimates for their carbon absorption can become less accurate.

Besides shading and cooling, the trees offer other unmeasured benefits, like canopy coverage. While the current model gives a decent estimate of benefits, Hrobar wants to add data on tree canopy cover. This would measure how much ground the branches and leaves cover.

Hrobar is eager to re-measure the trees to track how their canopy changes with campus development. Understanding these changes will help her team evaluate the energy-saving advantages trees provide. Carse highlighted that every dollar spent on maintaining campus trees brings $4 in return benefits.

“We aim for a variety of tree sizes and species,” said Hrobar. “But our priority is the health of the trees to ensure they grow to their full potential. Healthy trees offer shade, improve air quality, mitigate stormwater, and support wildlife.”

Students also recognize the importance of trees. Lydian DiDonato, a junior majoring in youth and community studies, values the shade and benefits trees provide. She hopes more of her peers will join campus outreach efforts.

“Everyone knows trees provide shade on hot days,” DiDonato said. “But understanding the science behind those benefits is crucial.”