CTV News Montreal reported on the growing debate which questions whether urban tree planning might be contributing to rising seasonal allergies. Over a quarter of Canadians suffer from these allergies, and some attribute the issue to city planners’ preference for male trees, which produce more pollen despite being less "messy". They spoke with Sarah Tardif (UQAM, Urban Forest Research Chair) on the subject who is investigating tree distribution and its impact on allergies for her PhD. She notes that while birch trees are not the most common in Montreal, they produce highly allergenic pollen. The City of Montreal does not consider tree gender in its planting choices but is collaborating with UQAM to better understand the link between tree pollen and allergy symptoms. This research aims to guide future urban planting decisions to balance public health and ecological benefits.

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