Growing a healthy and sustainable Vaughan
Significant progress has been made on our Urban Forest Management Plan
Trees are an important resource – they provide oxygen, shelter, shade, food and more to the people and animals that call Vaughan home.
The City’s commitment to effectively manage all trees in our community over the next 20 years and beyond is making significant progress.
The Urban Forest Management Plan Year 1 Annual Report (PDF), which was presented at the Sept. 17 Committee of the Whole (Working Session) and approved at the Sept. 22 Council Meeting, provides updates on these advancements throughout the past year.
Here is an overview of some of the advancements and next steps:
Goal 1: Prioritize good program governance
Align urban forest planning and management with best practices.
Strengthened research partnerships with organizations such as Vineland Research and Innovation Centre to enhance urban forestry practices.
Strengthened integration of urban forestry considerations into the planning phase of all capital projects and policies.
Integrated tree equity into City-wide planting strategies.
Established a Tree Planting Reserve to reinvest tree replacement fees into Vaughan’s urban forest canopy.
Piloted a food forest with community partners, establishing edible, ecosystem-based plantings at Marita Payne Park (2 Glen Shields Ave.).
Continued engagement of residents, fostering community involvement and environmental education.
Goal 2: Maintain a healthy and safe urban forest
Formalize the City’s proactive approach to standards, processes and risk management.
Implemented a proactive seven-year pruning cycle for urban street trees to improve long-term tree health and enhance service efficiency.
Reduced emergency response costs by minimizing storm-related tree damage.
Continued support of biodiversity, wildlife habitat and ecological functions within the urban environment.
Goal 3: Expand the urban forest canopy and associated benefits
Ensure design, development and planning meet the desired outcomes.
Increased annual tree planting rates to add 1,400 new tree locations every year.
Partnered with Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests (LEAF) to launch a subsidized Backyard Tree Planting program.
Continued improvement of biodiversity and wildlife habitat through updated native, non-native and non-invasive tree selections.
Goal 4: Protect trees and woodlands for future generations
Ensure consistency across the City’s tools, processes and compliance measures.
Reviewed and updated the Tree Protection Protocol (PDF) to address capital projects that can’t meet urban forest requirements.
Revised the City’s Tree Protection By-law (PDF) to enhance tree protection and support urban canopy growth.
Developed clear standards to manage tree encroachment from private to public property.
Goal 5: Partner in urban forest stewardship
Connect with the community and improve educational programming.
Expanded the Green Guardians program to enhance community engagement in environmental stewardship.
Developed educational resources about pests, diseases and invasive species, empowering residents to report issues and avoid harmful management practices.
Delivered tree planting events, workshops and engagement projects to promote urban forestry, leveraging partner expertise to increase program impact.
Watch this video to learn more about the importance of planning for the future of Vaughan’s trees. For more information, and to stay up to date on the progress of this plan, visit vaughan.ca/UrbanForest.
QUOTES
“With nearly four-million trees across our community, the City of Vaughan needs to be their biggest champion. That’s where the Urban Forest Management Plan comes in. The plan reflects the City’s unwavering commitment to preserving Vaughan’s natural beauty. After just one year of the plan’s implementation, we’ve already made significant progress. For the fourth consecutive year, Vaughan was recognized as a Tree City of the World by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 2024, reaffirming the work we are doing to create a greener, healthier city for our children, and their children, too. Thank you to the Public Works portfolio for being leaders in sustainable urban forestry management. I look forward to seeing what will be accomplished over the next year.”
- Mayor Steven Del Duca
“The City of Vaughan’s Urban Forest Management Plan outlines our long-term vision and strategy for effectively managing Vaughan’s urban forest. It is a plan of the future – and for the future. Over the last year, we have implemented new systems to increase our operational efficiency, updated key policies, secured grant funding, expanded community engagement and education, and much more. Through this plan, the City continues to foster a greener, more connected and climate-resilient Vaughan. I would like to recognize all the incredible staff in Public Works, whether in the office or in the field, who tirelessly work to achieve our forestry goals.”
- Zoran Postic, City Manager
“Vaughan continues to expand our urban forest – one tree at a time! Trees are a significant part of the foundation of the city’s health, wellness and beauty. Our staff pride themselves on protecting and maintaining Vaughan’s trees in alignment with the City’s Urban Forest Management Plan. While the plan was first introduced in 2024, it has already had a significant impact across the city – but there is more to be done. Thank you to the staff in the Parks, Forestry and Horticulture Operations department who spearhead this important work. With this plan, we are well-equipped to maintain a beautiful and sustainable urban forest for years to come.”
- Emilie Alderman, Deputy City Manager, Public Works
QUICK FACTS
The Urban Forest Management Plan Year 1 Annual Report staff report (PDF) was presented to Vaughan Council at the Committee of the Whole (Working Session) on Sept. 17, 2025 and approved at the Sept. 22 Council meeting.
The Urban Forest Management Plan, developed in 2024, outlines the strategic direction to manage Vaughan’s trees over 20 years. In its first year, the City advanced 24 of the 98 actions.
The City of Vaughan is dedicated to creating a healthy, growing and sustainable urban forest canopy that supports biodiversity, human health, recreation and community climate to provide a greener future for generations to come.
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