The wealthier, the greener: Why trees are more common in higher-income neighbourhoods

The trend is clear: the wealthier your neighbourhood, the more likely you will be surrounded by trees.

A CBC News analysis of data from the City of Montreal and Statistics Canada shows the higher the median income of a neighbourhood, the more extensive the tree cover.

In other Canadian cities and beyond, researchers are tracking similar dynamics between green space and socioeconomic status, and looking for solutions to address the imbalance.

"The general pattern is that wealthier areas — more privileged neighbourhoods — tend to have not only higher tree cover, but also a greater diversity of species," said Carly Ziter, a biology professor at Concordia University in Montreal who specializes in urban ecology.

"Those patterns do seem to hold in many of our cities."

The need for trees, and the cooler, better air they provide, has become ever more pressing as the climate warms and cities are subjected to more extended periods of extreme heat, Ziter said.

New research has pointed to more far-reaching effects of trees, from an increase in tourists in leafier commercial areas to tangible improvements in an individual's mental health when surrounded by urban green space.