Help Preserve Toronto’s Urban Forest

The trees along our streets and in our backyards are an essential part of Toronto’s urban forest. Since approximately 80% of the land in Toronto is privately owned, homeowners play a vital role in ensuring the healthy regeneration of our urban forest.

Trees not only make our neighbourhoods more pleasant places to live, they can also mean higher property values. Shade and windbreak from trees can significantly reduce household energy bills. And trees actually improve our health by absorbing harmful air pollutants.

There are two programs that can help homeowners interested in planting trees.

City of Toronto, Urban Forestry Services, offers a free street tree planting program. If you are interested in having a tree planted in front of your home, call 416-338-TREE.

LEAF (Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests) is a non-profit that encourages tree planting in residential neighbourhoods. Through a subsidized Backyard Tree Planting Project, LEAF staff help homeowners get the right tree in the right place. They also provide extensive resources on tree care to help participants nurture their trees to maturity. For details on the program, visit www.leaftoronto.org or call 416-413-9244.