Inventory of Available Spaces for Planting New Trees in the St. George Campus of the University of Toronto

The numerous benefits of having abundant trees in an urban environment have been well documented. Communities need an extensive and healthy urban forest capable of providing the diverse benefits that trees can offer, and the University of Toronto, being home to thousands of domestic and international students, is no exception. While the present state of the urban forest at the St. George campus, with more than 3000 trees, is good, there is room to grow. One of the main limitations for planting trees in urban environments is the lack of enough adequate space. This study was conducted in the St. George campus with the main objective of assembling enough information about suitable planting spaces for new trees. An extensive site level inventory was conducted through the campus and entered into a database and a digital map. Recommendations are provided for planting the most suitable species for each particular space and with the goal of increasing species diversity and enhancing spatial distribution in campus. The results of this study could be used to plan future tree plantings and improve tree canopy cover in the St. George campus