Inspired by federal pledge to plant trees

Last year the Canadian government unveiled a climate action plan called A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy. This is a positive move.

Of the many practical measures and spending targets is a $3.16 billion investment in trees, “to partner with provinces, territories, non government organizations, Indigenous communities, municipalities, private landowners, and others to plant two billion trees” over 10 years. This is a bold and inspiring plan.

Trees are a vital link in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, critical to combat climate change. Trees clean and cool the air and sequester tons of carbon in the ground, a natural way to reduce global warming. We are losing too many trees each year in B.C. to forestry, floods, and fires.

B.C. has both a strong foresty industry and tree-planting program. In 2020, tree planters in B.C. put 300 million seedlings in the ground, setting a new annual record, all while having no COVID cases.

Our city has lost many trees on local properties due to development, disease, or age. Our city is hotter each year and we’ve lost the cooling effect of trees.

Each of us can make our own personal commitment to planting trees at our homes, by joining a local conservation