Protecting Vaughan’s trees for years to come
Vaughan Council approves City’s first-ever Urban Forest Management Plan
Trees are an important resource. They are integral to Vaughan’s character and enhance the quality of life for our community. They provide oxygen, improve mental and physical health, provide shelter for insects, birds and other animals and provide shade and food for humans and animals, like fruits and nuts.
During the March 26 Council meeting, Vaughan Council approved the City of Vaughan’s first-ever Urban Forest Management Plan (PDF). The plan provides information on the current state of the City’s trees and the strategic direction necessary to manage them over the next 20 years. It includes a vision, five goals, 14 strategies and 76 actions.
As the strategy was being developed in 2023, residents were engaged through two rounds of engagement to collect feedback. The first round of engagement took place in March and April focusing on gathering community values and goals, while the second engagement took place in June focused around directing the plan’s directions, goals and strategies.
The Urban Forest Management Plan aligns with the City’s goal to champion a sustainable community and act as a steward to preserve the natural environment and lead with municipal best practices. As part of this plan, a Woodland Management Strategy was also developed to guide the management of all City-owned woodlands.
Watch this video to learn more about the importance of planning for the future of Vaughan’s trees. For more information, and to stay up to date on the progress of this plan, visit vaughan.ca/UrbanForest.
QUOTES
“Vaughan’s urban tree canopy plays a significant role in providing an improved quality of life for everyone who lives, works and visits our beautiful city. The Urban Forest Management Plan is a first-of-its-kind approach to preserve and protect healthy trees, and will help the City achieve its commitment to maintaining and enhancing our community by delivering Service Excellence. I want to thank the Public Works teams for their dedication to keeping Vaughan green for generations to come.”
- Mayor Steven Del Duca
“On behalf of the City of Vaughan’s Public Works portfolio, I am pleased to present the City’s first-ever Urban Forest Management Plan that will help us maintain our more than 130,000 trees over the next 20 years. This plan will guide us as we continue to enhance the quality of life in Vaughan by protecting and maintaining every tree in our city. Staff have worked hard over the last year to ensure everyone’s voice was heard so we can continue to make Vaughan a beautiful and green city for all.”
- Zoran Postic, Deputy City Manager, Public Works
QUICK FACTS
- The City manages more than 130,000 street trees and approximately 600 hectares of municipal greenspaces, including 27 woodlots and 312 parks and open spaces.
- As part of this plan, a Woodland Management Strategy was also developed to guide the management of all City-owned woodlands.
- Council endorsed the plan during the Council meeting on March 26.
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