Justin Morgenroth
@jamorgenroth.bsky.social
Professor. Urban tree and greenspace enthusiast. I want to ride my bicycle. I measure trees with lasers and satellites 🇨🇦 🇳🇿
📍Christchurch | Ōtautahi, New Zealand | Aotearoa
orcid: 0000-0002-2747-7349
📍Christchurch | Ōtautahi, New Zealand | Aotearoa
orcid: 0000-0002-2747-7349
It doesn't always go this well...today I had 2 manuscripts rejected. Chin up.
Two manuscripts accepted for publication today. Surprised? You bet. Hope you people like science about trees and cities.
November 12, 2025 at 2:46 AM
It doesn't always go this well...today I had 2 manuscripts rejected. Chin up.
This was really cool to see, @arborkoeser.bsky.social covered my recent research in his blog 'Rooted in Tree Research'. It's well-written and funny #scicom. If you've ever wondered what happens to a root when you cut through it with a spade, check it out blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/gcrec/2025/1...
A Cut Below: How Pruning Techniques and Timing Impact Damage and Regrowth (Tree Journal Club 9) - Gulf Coast Research and Education Center
Tree Root Pruning Research Findings
blogs.ifas.ufl.edu
November 11, 2025 at 11:19 PM
This was really cool to see, @arborkoeser.bsky.social covered my recent research in his blog 'Rooted in Tree Research'. It's well-written and funny #scicom. If you've ever wondered what happens to a root when you cut through it with a spade, check it out blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/gcrec/2025/1...
Is it silly to think that New Zealand's science funding changes may yield too much influence to one person?
newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/16/f...
newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/16/f...
October 17, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Is it silly to think that New Zealand's science funding changes may yield too much influence to one person?
newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/16/f...
newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/16/f...
Today #ucnz is hosting careers advisors from across the country and my research group is telling them all about how we use remote sensing to measure and monitor forests. We use drones equipped with laser scanners, multispectral sensors, and thermal sensors to understand forest dynamics.
September 4, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Today #ucnz is hosting careers advisors from across the country and my research group is telling them all about how we use remote sensing to measure and monitor forests. We use drones equipped with laser scanners, multispectral sensors, and thermal sensors to understand forest dynamics.
My university, #ucnz, is putting on a series of really interesting talks at this annual Raising the Bar event. Grab a coffee, pint, wine, or cocktail at your local and hear 20 leading academics talk about AI, penguins, space tourism, and more. www.rtbevent.com/rtbchch2025
Christchurch 2025 — Raising the bar
20 Talks. 10 Bars. 1 Night.
www.rtbevent.com
September 3, 2025 at 9:52 AM
My university, #ucnz, is putting on a series of really interesting talks at this annual Raising the Bar event. Grab a coffee, pint, wine, or cocktail at your local and hear 20 leading academics talk about AI, penguins, space tourism, and more. www.rtbevent.com/rtbchch2025
Had a really nice chat with Mihingarangi Forbes this morning on RNZ about NZ's urban forests and the importance of trees and greenspaces for wellbeing. www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro...
Filling streets with trees
Communities worldwide are planting trees. In New Zealand. Hāwera has 7.5% tree canopy, Picton has nearly 59%. The average across all NZ towns and cities is 19%.
www.rnz.co.nz
August 29, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Had a really nice chat with Mihingarangi Forbes this morning on RNZ about NZ's urban forests and the importance of trees and greenspaces for wellbeing. www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro...
I was so lucky to spend a week with the @irssubc.bsky.social on their annual research retreat on Vancouver Island. They're such a fun, smart, and inspiring group.
Work hard, play hard! 🌲✨ The #IRSSLab just wrapped up our annual summer retreat.
This week away gave lab members the chance to share research updates, pick up new skills from colleagues and guests, and, of course, enjoy some much-needed R&R!
#UBCForestry #remotesensing
This week away gave lab members the chance to share research updates, pick up new skills from colleagues and guests, and, of course, enjoy some much-needed R&R!
#UBCForestry #remotesensing
August 26, 2025 at 8:14 PM
I was so lucky to spend a week with the @irssubc.bsky.social on their annual research retreat on Vancouver Island. They're such a fun, smart, and inspiring group.
One of the best parts of my job...getting to congratulate my PhD students on submitting their thesis after years of hard work. Congrats to Joe Zhao (not on bsky) on his amazing work using deep learning for tree crown delineation and species detection in cities.
August 19, 2025 at 5:00 AM
One of the best parts of my job...getting to congratulate my PhD students on submitting their thesis after years of hard work. Congrats to Joe Zhao (not on bsky) on his amazing work using deep learning for tree crown delineation and species detection in cities.
For the local Christchurch folks, our tree cover target is 20% by 2070...an increase from the current 13.5%. It's a well thought out target that is achievable, but will need consistent resource allocation for new planting and maintenance/protection of existing trees.
Many cities have tree cover targets, used to support an increase in canopy and the benefits trees provide. But how are those targets set? Are they rational, aspirational, delusional? Our study of 57 cities worldwide found evidence off all three...
authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
#urbanforests
authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
#urbanforests
July 28, 2025 at 7:33 PM
For the local Christchurch folks, our tree cover target is 20% by 2070...an increase from the current 13.5%. It's a well thought out target that is achievable, but will need consistent resource allocation for new planting and maintenance/protection of existing trees.
Many cities have tree cover targets, used to support an increase in canopy and the benefits trees provide. But how are those targets set? Are they rational, aspirational, delusional? Our study of 57 cities worldwide found evidence off all three...
authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
#urbanforests
authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
#urbanforests
July 28, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Many cities have tree cover targets, used to support an increase in canopy and the benefits trees provide. But how are those targets set? Are they rational, aspirational, delusional? Our study of 57 cities worldwide found evidence off all three...
authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
#urbanforests
authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
#urbanforests
As promised, here's the first trees and cities manuscript. authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S.... Here's what we learned:
1. Residential intensification contributes to loss of tree canopy.
2. Residential infill leads to less tree cover loss than other forms of intensification.
3. But...
1. Residential intensification contributes to loss of tree canopy.
2. Residential infill leads to less tree cover loss than other forms of intensification.
3. But...
July 26, 2025 at 10:48 PM
As promised, here's the first trees and cities manuscript. authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S.... Here's what we learned:
1. Residential intensification contributes to loss of tree canopy.
2. Residential infill leads to less tree cover loss than other forms of intensification.
3. But...
1. Residential intensification contributes to loss of tree canopy.
2. Residential infill leads to less tree cover loss than other forms of intensification.
3. But...
Two manuscripts accepted for publication today. Surprised? You bet. Hope you people like science about trees and cities.
July 25, 2025 at 3:11 AM
Two manuscripts accepted for publication today. Surprised? You bet. Hope you people like science about trees and cities.
Thrilled that our urban tree cover work is leading to meaningful change. We provided 75 cities in NZ with an estimate of their tree cover and just a week later one town is looking at changing their Tree Policy to increase its canopy cover.
www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/3607...
www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/3607...
The Press
www.thepress.co.nz
July 11, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Thrilled that our urban tree cover work is leading to meaningful change. We provided 75 cities in NZ with an estimate of their tree cover and just a week later one town is looking at changing their Tree Policy to increase its canopy cover.
www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/3607...
www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/3607...
Nice write-up by Will Harvie summarising the tree cover in Canterbury cities and towns. www.thepress.co.nz/environment/...
July 3, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Nice write-up by Will Harvie summarising the tree cover in Canterbury cities and towns. www.thepress.co.nz/environment/...
How leafy 🌳 is your hometown? We've estimated tree canopy cover for 75 cities and towns in NZ. Picton is NZ's leafiest city with nearly 60% tree cover, while Hāwera has only 7%. www.canterbury.ac.nz/news-and-eve...
Tree cover for Kiwi towns and cities spotlit in new study | University of Canterbury
Researchers from the University of Canterbury have carried out urban tree canopy cover assessments for 75 towns and cities across New Zealand.
www.canterbury.ac.nz
July 2, 2025 at 4:10 AM
How leafy 🌳 is your hometown? We've estimated tree canopy cover for 75 cities and towns in NZ. Picton is NZ's leafiest city with nearly 60% tree cover, while Hāwera has only 7%. www.canterbury.ac.nz/news-and-eve...
This sets a dangerous precedent. Removing healthy established trees from public land because they aren't native and might cause future infrastructure damage...yikes!
www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3607...
www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3607...
Picton subdivision’s oaks ‘the wrong tree in the wrong place’
Two oaks in Endeavour Heights are to be replaced with natives, prompting the council to consider looking at all council-maintained exotic trees.
www.stuff.co.nz
June 12, 2025 at 7:13 PM
This sets a dangerous precedent. Removing healthy established trees from public land because they aren't native and might cause future infrastructure damage...yikes!
www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3607...
www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3607...
I get that people have views on trees near their homes, but saying the Council urban forestry team "haven't thought this through at all" is a stretch! People would be shocked at how much thought goes into every tree planted in NZ cities.
Dear Sarah from Papakura, rats and wasps will love your idea of fruit trees along streets, but the rotting fruit, pruning, and spraying requirements for a healthy horticultural crop won't make you happy. Enjoy your Sweetgum...it really is a lovely street tree. www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3607...
Council’s ‘ridiculous’ choice of berm tree criticised
Papakura local Sarah Thompson was surprised when she found that council had planted a dwarf version of a liquidamber on her berm last month.
www.stuff.co.nz
June 11, 2025 at 4:20 AM
I get that people have views on trees near their homes, but saying the Council urban forestry team "haven't thought this through at all" is a stretch! People would be shocked at how much thought goes into every tree planted in NZ cities.
Dear Sarah from Papakura, rats and wasps will love your idea of fruit trees along streets, but the rotting fruit, pruning, and spraying requirements for a healthy horticultural crop won't make you happy. Enjoy your Sweetgum...it really is a lovely street tree. www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3607...
Council’s ‘ridiculous’ choice of berm tree criticised
Papakura local Sarah Thompson was surprised when she found that council had planted a dwarf version of a liquidamber on her berm last month.
www.stuff.co.nz
June 11, 2025 at 3:55 AM
Dear Sarah from Papakura, rats and wasps will love your idea of fruit trees along streets, but the rotting fruit, pruning, and spraying requirements for a healthy horticultural crop won't make you happy. Enjoy your Sweetgum...it really is a lovely street tree. www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3607...
What a day to 🚲 to work...forecast tailwinds both ways!
May 5, 2025 at 8:23 PM
What a day to 🚲 to work...forecast tailwinds both ways!
Out with my forestry science students, learning about foraging from the incomparable Peter Langlands. Lots of edible and poisonous mushrooms in Hanmer with the recent rains.
April 8, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Out with my forestry science students, learning about foraging from the incomparable Peter Langlands. Lots of edible and poisonous mushrooms in Hanmer with the recent rains.
Not sure if I've got any followers involved in NZ housing, but if so, my PhD student Dave Pedley has an online survey about the management of trees in housing intensification projects and the use of incentives to support the retention of existing trees. canterbury.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Property Developer Survey
A survey for property developers about the management of trees in housing intensification projects and the use of incentives to support the retention of existing urban trees.
canterbury.qualtrics.com
March 31, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Not sure if I've got any followers involved in NZ housing, but if so, my PhD student Dave Pedley has an online survey about the management of trees in housing intensification projects and the use of incentives to support the retention of existing trees. canterbury.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
I nodded so much reading this article,I think I injured my neck. So very relatable for many working in academia.
"Was research, teaching and innovation really performed worse previously when we didn't have so many administrative burdens? Have we become more or less efficient at doing what we are really supposed to do—our core mission—in modern universities?"🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 academic.oup.com/brain/articl...
On the responsibilities of intellectuals and the rise of bullshit jobs in universities
You may never have considered yourself to be one. Why would you? But if you’re reading this, there is more than a likelihood that you are one. If you’re a
academic.oup.com
March 25, 2025 at 9:46 AM
I nodded so much reading this article,I think I injured my neck. So very relatable for many working in academia.
A colleague of mine once said we need to earn the student commute with the quality of our lectures. I think about that a lot. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
‘Teaching to an empty hall’: is the changing face of universities eroding standards of learning?
Voluntary attendance. Online classes. Student numbers swelling. Australian campuses look very different today – and many academics don’t like it
www.theguardian.com
February 20, 2025 at 7:18 PM
A colleague of mine once said we need to earn the student commute with the quality of our lectures. I think about that a lot. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
✅ More housing
❎ Landscaping
I wonder if the consented plans showed some nice leafy green trees and, if so, what happened to them?
❎ Landscaping
I wonder if the consented plans showed some nice leafy green trees and, if so, what happened to them?
February 17, 2025 at 12:17 AM
✅ More housing
❎ Landscaping
I wonder if the consented plans showed some nice leafy green trees and, if so, what happened to them?
❎ Landscaping
I wonder if the consented plans showed some nice leafy green trees and, if so, what happened to them?