Vaughan recognized as a Tree City of the World
Vaughan is a green city, dedicated to fostering a sustainable and healthier environment today and for future generations. For the second year in a row, the City of Vaughan has been recognized as a Tree City of the World by the Arbor Day Foundation, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
This designation was celebrated during a special ceremonial presentation at today’s Council meeting by Mayor Steven Del Duca and Members of Council.
The Tree Cities of the World program recognizes municipalities committed to ensuring urban forests and trees are properly maintained, sustainably managed and celebrated. The Arbor Day Foundation’s goal is to connect cities around the world in a new network dedicated to sharing and adopting the most successful approaches to managing community trees and forests.
To become a Tree City of the World, a community must meet five core standards that illustrate a strong commitment to caring for its trees and forests, including:
- establishing responsibility for the caring of trees.
- setting rules to govern the management of trees.
- maintaining an updated inventory of local tree resources.
- allocating resources for tree management.
- celebrating achievements for trees.
The City recognizes the significant role the urban canopy plays in providing an improved quality of life.
Trees provide oxygen; improve mental and physical health; provide shelter for insects, birds and other animals; provide shelter and food for humans and animals, like fruits and nuts. They also cool the air, save water, reduce noise pollution, capture stormwater runoff and beautify the community!
Furthering its commitment to preserving Vaughan’s trees, the City is working on its first-ever Urban Forest Management Plan, which will be presented to Council in January 2024. The plan will include:
- a long-term vision to manage the urban forest.
- a financial analysis to guide implementation.
- goals, recommendations and targets to achieve the vision.
- information on the current state of Vaughan’s urban forest.
As part of the City’s community engagement efforts this year, residents were asked to share their priorities for Vaughan’s urban forest through a survey and open house. Residents were also encouraged to participate in an art contest, showcasing the beauty and importance of Vaughan trees. The winning image will be showcased on the cover of the final Urban Forest Management Plan and the second- and third-place winners, along with two honourable mentions, will be featured within the plan. View all submissions on the project webpage.
By preserving and protecting our trees, the City can achieve its commitment to maintaining and enhancing the urban forest and the environment.
Learn more about the Urban Forest Management Plan at vaughan.ca/UrbanForest.
QUOTES
“Vaughan is a green city, and sustainability remains at the core of our city-building efforts. Over the past decade, we’ve demonstrated strong leadership in the fight against climate change: we opened the 900-acre North Maple Regional Park, planted tens of thousands of trees and built hundreds of recreational pathways. We are proud that our commitment to climate action, and preservation of Vaughan’s Urban Forest have earned our administration the Tree Cities of the World recognition for the second consecutive year. This further highlights our ongoing efforts to enhance the well-being of our neighbourhoods and create healthier, greener communities. I want to thank the Parks, Forestry and Horticulture Operations department for keeping our city green, and for building a better, brighter future for generations to come.”
- Mayor Steven Del Duca
“We are honoured to have Vaughan recognized as a Tree City of the World. This comes at a great time, as the Parks, Forestry and Horticulture Operations department wraps up our Urban Forest Management Plan and Woodland Management Strategy, which will guide our urban forestry decisions on how to best manage and enhance our forest assets. This recognition not only reflects our commitment to environmental stewardship but also underscores our dedication to preserving and enhancing Vaughan’s urban forest. As we celebrate this significant achievement, we reaffirm our dedication to fostering a sustainable, greener future for our community.”
- Zoran Postic, Deputy City Manager, Public Works
QUICK FACTS
- The Arbor Day Foundation, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has recognized Vaughan as a Tree City of the World.
- This is the second year in a row the City has received this prestigious recognition.
- The Arbor Day Foundation is the world's largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees. The Food and Agriculture Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.
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