©UBC Forestry

A University of B.C. (UBC) research team has developed a spatial and tree-mapping platform modelling program called CanopyFit that can help cities determine where to plant trees to increased shade and lessen radiant heat. “Creating and sustaining extensive canopy cover, by protecting mature trees and planting trees that can grow to large sizes, is one of the most effective investments cities can make to reduce exposure to extreme heat,” said Dr. Melissa McHale, a professor in UBC’s faculty of forestry and environmental stewardship and the lead in CanopyFit’s development. As cities develop urban forest strategies, the challenge is finding sites where trees will survive and provide cooling. …CanopyFit was first piloted in Kelowna, where nearly 80,000 trees need to be planted by 2050 by residents, developers and businesses to mitigate rising temperatures.