The municipality’s yearly tree-planting initiative helps us achieve our climate action goals while ensuring the health of our urban forest.
The Halifax Regional Municipality will plant about 2,500 trees on right-of-way areas and other municipally owned land starting in mid-May.
By calling 311, residents can request trees on public property. Requests will be taken into account, but nothing is promised. The municipality plants a mix of species to promote tree diversity and hardiness in order to maintain a healthy urban forest.
Right-of-way areas are excellent places for trees because they offer a variety of environmental and social advantages, including lowering the effects of heat, enhancing stormwater management, and creating pleasant outdoor spaces for enjoyment. Even though they may share space with electricity lines, properly clipped and managed trees pose no danger to the infrastructure supporting the power grid.
Through a cyclical tree cutting program, the municipality maintains the health of the trees in our urban forest. Residents can also call 311 to report trees that need trimming or upkeep.
Planting trees helps Regional Council-approved programs like HalifACT and the Urban Forest Management Plan.
In accordance with the municipality’s Urban Forest Management Plan, trees provide a variety of positive social and environmental effects. Planting trees is a crucial part of expanding our urban forest and restoring lost canopy since trees are essential components of public infrastructure. Trees are air filters for the municipality; our protection from heat; habitat for pollinators and migratory birds; key to combating climate change; integral to the health of our watersheds; a factor in improving health and emotional wellness; and they are effective traffic calming tools and safety barriers between cars and pedestrians.
You are not required to care for trees that are placed in front of your homes. The tree is the responsibility of the municipality. The tree should not be altered in any manner (pruning, fertilizer addition, further mulch application, removal of stakes/tethers, etc.); nevertheless, you are welcome to water the tree if you like. Please call 311 if you ever discover a problem with the tree.
Each tree is planted for a specific reason, such as to boost canopy coverage in specific neighborhoods, balance tree ages, diversity species, take advantage of favorable growing circumstances, or act as a barrier between vehicles and pedestrians, among other things. It is crucial that the municipality reserve its right to plant on public property in light of these bigger objectives. Therefore, notifying every homeowner directly throughout the implementation of the Urban Forest Master plan is a waste of resources.
More information about this program at https://www.halifax.ca/transportation/streets-sidewalks/urban-forestry/tree-planting
Reference: https://www.halifax.ca/
Photo by Alfo Medeiros: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-in-blue-long-sleeve-shirt-planting-a-tree-11534117/
