Tree Campus Higher Education Initiative

The Tree Campus Higher Education initiative at CUNY College of Staten Island aligns with the university’s broader sustainability goals to promote environmental stewardship, reduce campus carbon emissions, and enhance green infrastructure. By developing a geospatial tree inventory and implementing a campus tree care plan, the initiative contributes to New York State’s climate resiliency objectives under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which emphasizes nature-based solutions and urban forestry to mitigate heat and stormwater impacts. This project also creates meaningful opportunities for student engagement through internships and undergraduate research, allowing students to gain experience in GPS data collection, tree identification, and spatial analysis—building both academic and workforce skills while contributing to a more sustainable and resilient campus.

• 463 collected so far and GROWING.

• The high abundance of native oaks, maples, and sweet gum supports campus wildlife, carbon sequestration, and soil stability.

• Invasive species dominated by Bradford Pear trees, particularly along walkways as ornimental trees.

• High evenness and biodiversity of all and native trees trees suggest balanced species distribution and a stable urban canopy ecosystem.

Data collection for this is ongoing and will change as we continue to move forward. If you are interested in contributing to this project through data collection, undergraduate research, or engaging in policy implications for this work at the university, don't hesitate to get in touch with sean.thatcher@csi.cuny.edu.