Tree Donation Program

Emerald Ash Borer and Tree donation Program on Baie-D'Urfé Territory

Current Situation

In the last few years, the arrival of the emerald ash borer has had negative consequences in the region. To counter the rapid loss of these trees on the territory, the Town has implemented a Strategy Against the Emerald Ash Borer and a tree donation program to encourage people to plant the forest of tomorrow. The effect of this invasive insect is multiple and poses a very serious threat on the environment, the economy and the citizens. For a municipality, the main consequences of the ash borer infestation will be loss of the tree canopy, increased annual costs for tree removal, wood disposal and tree replacement, as well as decreased property values without mentioning the negative impact on the aesthetic character of the Town.

 

For the community, the loss in ecological services provided by the trees will also be significant, since trees help to:

  • Improve urban air quality
  • Support biological diversity
  • Limit soil erosion
  • Improve water quality
  • Fight against the urban heat island effect
  • Reduce extreme temperatures and winds
  • Improve quality of life (social life, landscapes)
  • Promote better human health

The most striking loss will undoubtedly be the alteration of the landscape. Many public and private spaces will be radically transformed with the lost of these trees. In order to counter the negative effects of the canopy loss of ash trees, the Town of Baie-D'Urfé has implemented a major tree donation program to facilitate the replanting of trees on its territory.

This program, which began in the spring of 2015, will extend until spring 2021. 

With every tree donation, 250 trees are available for residential owners. The dates of the tree distributions are stated in the News & Views Municipal Newsletter, the Town website and on the electronic billboard.

With each distribution, ten (10) different species of trees and shrubs are offered to the citizens in order to increase biodiversity within the Town. If the emerald ash borer situation in our municipality today is such a critical issue, it is because of a lack of tree diversity on the territory.

 

The seriousness of the reforestation approach being demonstrated, an extremely important general principle should be considered before planting a tree; it is a question of awareness of the surrounding conditions where the tree will take root. In other words, you must plant "the right tree in the right place". Each species is different and has its own growth requirements.

© Copyright Town of Baie-D'Urfé. All rights reserved. | Privacy policy
Top