The life of a city tree can be tough. Pollution, road salt, litter, bicycle locks and soil compaction are just a few of the hazards trees face in the line of duty.
But a new pilot project on the Danforth aims to encourage businesses and residents to work together to keep their local trees healthy.
The Danforth’s adopt-a-tree program, submitted by the city's Forestry Policy and Planning department, just received $15,000 from the TD Green Streets program. It’s one of 22 communities across Canada that have received TD Green Streets grants to kickstart and support urban forestry projects. More than 125 communities applied for the $300,000 worth of grants this year, all of them judged by
Tree Canada for innovation, community involvement, technical expertise and maintenance among other criteria.
“We’re looking for a departure from just planting a tree,” says Sarah Quann, a project manager for Tree Canada. “We want projects to go a bit further to get the community behind the effort.”
The Danforth project proposes a collaboration with several stakeholders, including BIAs and the not-for-profit group
LEAF. As many as 100 trees would be adopted by local residents, businesses and organizations. Adoptees would take care of their trees according to a manual that comes with the adoption documents.
“The success of the program will be measured through surveys throughout the process, looking at the satisfaction of the stakeholders themselves and the volunteers,” says Quann.
Writer: Paul Gallant
Source: Sarah Quann