12/02/2025
This fall, Mercyhurst University's Department of Biology and Office of Sustainability led the effort to plant 152 new trees on campus!
These new trees will form the canopy of our next century, and include native species such as sugar maples, red oaks, flowering dogwoods, honey locusts, eastern hemlocks, and many more! All together, we have increased our native trees on campus by an impressive 39%!
Planting trees does more than just beautify the area. Dr. Chris Dolanc, professor of biology and environmental science, chose locations to prioritize shading sidewalks, parking lots, and roadways to alleviate the hot summer sun and urban heat island effect. He also planted trees close to the exposed sides of buildings to reduce heating and cooling costs by offering shade in the summer and wind blocks in the Erie winter.
The tree planting efforts began in the summer, when sustainability student worker Jocelyn conducted a tree inventory on our campus. Going from tree to tree, Jocelyn recorded the species, location, and diameter of our existing canopy. This information helped us understand the gaps of native species we needed to fill, and will also inform our response to tree damage in the future.
Planting lasted three weeks, with student volunteers joining our grounds crews to plant while the weather was still pleasant in late October and early November. The trees will spend the winter developing roots to better equip them for the spring rains and leaf development.
Many thanks to our planting volunteers, grounds crews, Landscaping Committee, and Johnston's Nursery for supplying the native trees. This project was a partnership with the City of Erie and was funded with a grant through the PA DCNR.
