Plane Tree Check
Plane trees store particulate matter in their bark. That is why the University of Antwerp, UCLouvain and Scivil are launching the Plane Tree Check. Thanks to members of the public collecting bark from plane trees in their neighbourhoods, researchers can map the levels of particulate matter in Belgium.
Using the ‘Plataancheck ’, researchers measure the levels of particulate matter in our living environment. Plane trees absorb these harmful particles into their bark, making them a valuable source of information. By collecting and analysing bark samples, researchers gain a better understanding of air quality in different neighbourhoods.
The project is running in both Flanders and French-speaking Belgium (where it is known as Ecorc’Air), providing a broad picture of particulate matter pollution across the whole country.
The collection campaign is currently underway and will run until the end of April 2026. During this period, anyone can easily take part by collecting a piece of plane tree bark and bringing it in or sending it in.
