Urban forests, vital for citizen well-being in rapidly urbanizing areas, grapple with unequal distribution and accessibility. This imbalance is driven in part by the way we manage urban forests, causing thousands of trees to be felled annually due to reasons such as dieback, disease, damage, and mismanagement. Consequently, cities invest large sums of money into new planting programs rather than preserving the large mature trees which already exist within the urban forest; trees which offer superior and diverse benefits compared to new plantations. Paradoxically, the reasons motivating the removal of these valuable trees often go undocumented, leading to a lack of transparency and an urgent need for information.

To address this gap, a collaboration with municipalities and boroughs in Quebec has led to the establishment of a registry for felled trees, already containing over 5000 trees and still growing. The project aims to unravel key aspects such as: 1) understanding the primary reasons behind tree removals and evaluating if enhanced management and planning could prevent them; 2) identifying tree species more susceptible to felling and recognizing species-specific patterns; 3) examining consistencies in felling patterns among different cities and boroughs; and 4) proposing and implementing solutions to enhance the health and longevity of urban trees.

The goal is to understand the factors driving tree removals and determine if proactive measures could have averted them. By analyzing patterns, species vulnerabilities, and city-wide consistencies, our results would seek to formulate strategies for the improved protection, preservation, and efficient planting and maintenance of urban trees. Ultimately, this understanding aims to narrow the existing inequity gap within today's urban forests.