Toronto/CMEDIA: National Tree Day was reportedly observed today by Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow by participating in a community tree planting event at Caledonia Park to celebrate and highlight the City of Toronto’s ongoing investment in its urban forest.
“National Tree Day…celebrates the essential role our urban forests play in making Toronto healthier…investing in trees…enhancing our City’s resilience…or appreciating the beauty of our urban canopy,” Olivia said.
With an effort to reinforce expansion of the tree canopy and improve environmental resilience, the City has committed $15 million through the 2024 Budget, to plant 120,000 trees and shrubs across Toronto.
Emphasizing on the importance of integrating Indigenous traditional knowledge with modern science, this year’s theme for National Forest Week, “Two-Eyed Seeing: Welcoming All Knowledge to Sustain Our Forests”, resonates with the creation of a sustainable future for Toronto’s urban forest.
More than 1,050 native trees and shrubs have been or will be planted across the city as part of the celebrations with a focus on areas with lower tree density to promote equity in green spaces.
Held from Sept 22 – 28, National Forest Week (NFW) raises awareness about the vital role of forests in our history, culture and economy.
Besides promoting urban tree importance, local tree planting and participation in stewardship events, NFW coincides with National Tree Day, held on September 25, which celebrates the beauty and benefits of trees.
The City’s 2024 operating budget included an increase of $970,000 to:
- Plant 1,000 additional trees, increasing the total number of trees planted in 2024 to 120,000
- Water 14,000 additional trees
- Prune 1,000 additional trees to maintain their health and safety
To help ensure trees are distributed fairly across different neighbourhoods, a tree equity tool was launched by the City In May.
Created with American Forests and Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests (LEAF), this tool uses data on land use, demographics and income to find areas where more trees are needed.
For more information, visit the City’s Tree Planting webpage.
With over 11.5 million trees, Toronto’s urban forest provides critical environmental benefits, including improved air quality, climate resilience, and reduced energy costs through shading.
Being essential for reducing greenhouse gases, trees also manage water levels to prevent erosion.
Vital contributions of trees to make Toronto’s ecosystem and their role in mitigating climate change can be learnt by the residents as well as find information on the City’s tree planting, maintenance, and protection efforts, by visiting the City’s Tree Planting webpage.
For budget-related details, visit the City’s Back on Track webpage.
