A new paper is out for the PaqLab! This time we are comparing the diversity of the urban forest amongst different ownership types: private (residential and institutional) vs public. The study was conducted on the urban plot set up around UQAM's science campus (check out the interactive map here!) and describes the first urban forest research plot established in Montreal. 1567 trees (from 84 species and 43 genera) were inventoried and analysed leading to the conclusion that tree abundance and diversity differed depending on land ownership: the public urban forest included more trees and was slightly more diverse than the private urban forest. Moreover, the species composition of trees in public and private spaces differed, increasing the overall diversity.

Since most urban forest research focuses only on public trees, we hope this paper will showcase the importance and significance of including the entire urban forest in future studies to bridge important knowledge gaps. You can check out the full publication online at the link below!