Background Information

The urban forest includes all trees, forests, green space, soils and ecosystems located within the municipality’s boundary, including trees and forests within the rural areas. The urban forest occurs on public and private yards, from urban to rural or forested landscapes. Trees are an important community asset because they provide many environmental, social, and economic benefits. Some of these benefits include cooling air temperatures, cleaning air, offering high-quality recreational opportunities and providing habitat to support biodiversity.

The municipality is updating the 2013 Urban Forest Master Plan to adapt urban forest management to changing conditions and wants to involve community members in the process. A particular focus will be placed on working with previously under-represented community groups including Indigenous, African Nova Scotian, newcomers, people with disabilities and the francophone community.

Work to update the plan began in the fall 2023 and is expected to be completed in the fall 2024.