How data could help protect city trees in the Chicago area - Climate Connections

Summary3 min read

Episode Overview

Title: How data could help protect city trees in the Chicago area
Date: March 11, 2026
Host: Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz, Yale Center for Environmental Communication
Guest: Christy Rawlinson, Senior Scientist in Forest Ecology at the Morton Arboretum, Chicago

This episode explores how urban trees are impacted by climate change—particularly in the Chicago area—and highlights how scientists are using new data-driven strategies to protect and sustain city trees amid rising temperatures and increased drought.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Challenges Facing Urban Trees

Urban Stressors:
- Trees in urban environments face unique hardships: limited space for roots, higher exposure to invasive pests and disease, and more extreme climate conditions.
  - Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz (00:01):
  "Life can be hard for trees in the city. They may have little space for their roots to spread and can be vulnerable to invasive pests and disease. And as the climate warms, more extreme heat and drought threaten tree health."
- The intensity of these stressors is often greater in cities due to the built environment.
  - Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz (00:20):
  "And those are both worse in urban environments."

Variation in Tree Survival Across the City

Different Urban Settings, Different Risks:
- Christy Rawlinson explains that the survival and stressors for trees vary significantly depending on where they are planted (e.g., parking lots vs. parks).
  - Christy Rawlinson (00:31):
  "You've got those trees that are in the parking lot, you've got trees in a park, and each of those are going to experience slightly different conditions."

Using Data to Inform Urban Forestry

Species Resilience Research:
- Rawlinson and her team study which tree species thrive under different environmental stresses, such as occasional drought, flooding, or varying levels of urban disturbance.
- Data is collected on trees suited for specific locations (e.g., busy roads, under utility lines, backyards).
Making Data Accessible:
- The team shares their findings online, helping city planners, nurseries, and homeowners select the right tree species for their situation.
  - Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz (00:38):
  "And they're sharing that data online to help cities, nurseries and homeowners identify the best trees to plant."

Monitoring and Responding to Urban Tree Stress

Leveraging Satellite Data:
- Rawlinson’s team uses satellite imagery to monitor the Chicago area's urban forest, tracking how tree health changes over time and across locations.
- This monitoring helps to identify places most stressed by drought.
Targeted Interventions:
- Armed with this data, cities can direct resources—like watering—where they’re needed most, improving resilience as the climate warms.
  - Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz (00:50):
  "With that information, cities and towns can prioritize watering where it's needed most, so the region's urban forests can grow and thrive even as the climate warms."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On species variation:

"You've got those trees that are in the parking lot, you've got trees in a park, and each of those are going to experience slightly different conditions."
— Christy Rawlinson, 00:31
On data-driven resilience:

"They're sharing that data online to help cities, nurseries and homeowners identify the best trees to plant."
— Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz, 00:38
On adapting to climate change:

"With that information, cities and towns can prioritize watering where it's needed most, so the region's urban forests can grow and thrive even as the climate warms."
— Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz, 00:50

Timestamps for Important Segments

00:01 — Introduction: Challenges facing city trees
00:23 — Expert insight: Threats vary by city location (Christy Rawlinson)
00:31 — Understanding varied urban conditions
00:38 — Data sharing to optimize urban forestry
00:45 — Using satellite data to monitor and react to tree stress

Summary

This episode demonstrates how both ground-based and satellite data are revolutionizing the way urban forestry teams address tree health in the face of warming climates. By tailoring interventions and sharing findings widely, Chicago is setting an example for how cities everywhere can help their urban forests survive and even thrive amidst global warming.

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Transcript5 lines

[00:02]
A
I'm Dr. Anthony Liesiewicz, and this is Climate Connections. Life can be hard for trees in the city. They may have little space for their roots to spread and can be vulnerable to invasive pests and disease. And as the climate warms, more extreme heat and drought threaten tree health.
[00:20]
B
And those are both worse in urban environments.
[00:23]
A
But Christy Rawlinson, senior scientist in forest ecology at the Morton Arboretum near Chicago, and says the threats vary across a city.
[00:32]
B
You've got those trees that are in the parking lot, you've got trees in a park, and each of those are going to experience slightly different conditions.
[00:39]
A
So her team is gathering data on which tree species better tolerate stresses such as an occasional drought or flooding, and which are more likely to thrive in specific kinds of places, like along a busy road, under utility lines, or in people's backyards. And they're sharing that data online to help cities, nurseries and homeowners identify the best trees to plant. Her team also uses satellite data to monitor the urban forest in the Chicago area. She says they'll use that data to identify areas stressed by drought. With that information, cities and towns can prioritize watering where it's needed most, so the region's urban forests can grow and thrive even as the climate warms. Climate Connections is produced by the Yale center for Environmental Communication. To learn more about climate change, visit climateconnections.or.