“Urban trees improve air quality and reduce the impacts of heat events, making life safer and healthier for nearby residents.” said Councillor Carr.

Vancouver, BC, August 19, 2024 — Greens are celebrating today’s announcement of Vancouver’s new Adopt-a-Tree program.  The program is designed to engage residents and provide them an active role in helping establish young and newly planted trees and in being stewards of our urban forest.

The program is a result of corresponding motions brought to City Council by Green City Councillor Adriane Carr in June and to the Park Board by Green Commissioner Tom Digby in April.  Working across party lines, the Greens were able to secure majority support to take bold steps to enhance Vancouver’s urban tree canopy.

“Urban trees improve air quality and reduce the impacts of heat events, making life safer and healthier for nearby residents.” said Councillor Carr. “It is essential we meet our goal of increasing tree canopy to 30% by 2030.”

Commissioner Digby declared he was “delighted” with the program.  “I have learned that so many residents love their urban trees and are deeply engaged with their success.  Adopt-a-Tree provides an important new avenue to enhance survival of newly planted trees.”

Park Board’s urban forestry team is responsible for maintaining 150,000 urban street trees in Vancouver.  Each year, over 2000 of these trees are lost to storms, drought, age and disease.  The Park Board re-plants 3,000-4,000 trees on public land annually but of these, 50-75% are lost, some to lack of watering.  The Adopt-a-Tree program aims to engage community members to actively participate in watering and care, especially during the hot dry summer months.

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Related Motions:  

City Council:  Increasing Vancouver’s Tree Canopy for a Safer, Healthier City  

Park Board:  Vancouver, Let’s Talk Trees!

Adopt-A-Tree: https://vancouver.adoptacity.co/programs/5/assets?lat=49.258612&lng=-123.121869&z=13