Toronto's urban forest is irreplaceable. These trees bring shade, clean air, flood protection, climate benefits, and health benefits.
As our summers get hotter and rainfall intensifies, we will need these trees even more. But plantable land for new trees in Toronto is decreasing every year and turning into pavement. That's why we need stronger protections for existing trees, including on private land, which hosts over 50% of Toronto's urban forest.
Toronto City Council is considering stronger protections for private trees, including more enforcement for illegally cutting down large healthy trees, and expanding the number of trees that get protection.
A mature tree removes up to 70 times more pollution than a new tree, and stores far more carbon. Once a large tree is cut, we lose an important piece of city infrastructure which takes decades to replace.
Sign this petition to send a message to City Hall supporting strong tree protection now!
Toronto's urban forest is irreplaceable. As plantable land decreases, our existing trees need stronger protections to make sure they protect us for decades to come.
These trees bring shade, clean air, flood protection, climate benefits, and health benefits. And more than half of them are on private land.
I'm asking you to support a plan for stronger private tree protection heading to City Council in March.
This plan includes stronger enforcement for illegally cutting down large healthy trees, special protection for our biggest healthy trees, and reporting back on expanding the number of trees that get protection.
There is strong public support for protecting trees. City consultations showed that 85% of respondents think the City should do more to protect healthy trees on private property.
A mature tree removes up to 70 times more pollution than a new tree, and stores far more carbon. But when they are cut illegally - we lose a critical piece of city infrastructure which takes decades or even centuries to replace. That's why stronger enforcement measures are needed now more than ever.
Most surrounding cities like Oakville, Mississauga, Vaughan, and Newmarket have already reduced private tree protection thresholds to 20cm or lower. Staff are recommending further analysis to report back on how Toronto can do the same, reducing our threshold from 30cm to 20cm. This action alone could protect hundreds of thousands more trees across Toronto.
Please support a stronger tree bylaw to protect our irreplaceable urban forest.
Sincerely,
[your name]
