City of Waterloo seeks public input on Urban Forest Management Plan

The City is gathering input to help develop its urban forest management strategy. The goal is to find ways to maintain and increase the current urban tree canopy over the next 25 years to 2050.

“Tree canopy is an important part of every neighbourhood particularly as our city grows,” said Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe. “To achieve our community’s strategic priorities of environmental sustainability and climate action, we must maintain and increase our natural assets, including trees.”

The City has an approximate tree cover of 32.5 per cent. The Parks and Forestry team is assessing the current tree canopy throughout Waterloo and determining how to preserve, protect and manage existing trees, and ensure more trees are planted as development continues to increase.

 "The benefits of urban trees are endless,” said Robin Milne, Director, Parks, Forestry and Cemetery services for Waterloo. “They offer shade to cool our surface areas; provide habitat; and absorb carbon dioxide helping to decrease air pollution.” The project team is exploring tactics under the following themes: people need trees; making space for trees; trees and communities need each other; and trees for everyone; which speaks to an emphasis on tree equity.

 The City is gathering public feedback at events and meetings throughout the summer as well as online at https://www.engagewr.ca/future-of-trees-waterloo.

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Media contact:

Stacey Abbott
Manager, Corporate Communications
Stacey.Abbott@waterloo.ca