Richmond Hill Named a Tree City of the World

One of Only 15 Cities in Canada to Receive Global Designation

RICHMOND HILL – The City of Richmond Hill has achieved international recognition for its leadership in maintaining and growing its urban forest. The Arbor Day Foundation and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) named Richmond Hill a Tree City of the World, making it one of only 15 cities in Canada and 120 cities worldwide to receive this honour.

To be designated as a Tree City, a community must meet five core standards that illustrate a commitment to caring for its trees and forests, including establishing responsibility, setting rules, knowing what you have, allocating resources and celebrating achievements.

Richmond Hill has a strong foundation of urban forest management with many programs, by-laws and planting initiatives that help manage, protect and grow trees on public and private property. As part of Council’s priority to balance growth and green, the City also recently launched its first Urban Forest Management Plan, which strengthens its ability to preserve and enhance the nearly 2.6 million trees and shrubs that make up Richmond Hill’s urban forest.

This is the second year of the Tree Cities program, which aims to connect cities around the world in a new network dedicated to sharing and adopting the most successful approaches to managing community trees and forests.

To learn more about how Richmond Hill is managing its urban forest, visit RichmondHill.ca/UrbanForestPlan. For information about the Tree Cities of the World program, visit www.treecitiesoftheworld.org.

QUOTES

“We are proud to be recognized as international leaders in protecting our urban forest. Trees are an important part of building a sustainable, resilient and healthy community and we are committed to preserving and protecting them.” Acting Mayor Joe DiPaola 

“We applaud all of the cities that have earned Tree Cities of the World designation. They are leaders when it comes to planning and managing their urban forests. Many of the cities being recognized have gone above and beyond to use trees as part of their green infrastructure. This distinction is a celebration of their creativity and sustainability in creating healthier urban spaces.” Dan Lambe, president, Arbor Day Foundation.

QUICK FACTS

• Richmond Hill staff and contractors plant roughly 2,700 trees on City property every year
• Community volunteers and residents plant approximately 11,500 trees on public and private property through the City’s community planting initiatives every year
• Richmond Hill is one of the first municipalities in York Region to surpass its minimum Regional tree canopy target. In the past 10 years, the City’s urban tree canopy increased to 29.1% from 24.5% (based on the City’s land area of 10,008 hectares, excluding water).
• Tree Cities of the World is a program founded by The Arbor Day Foundation and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to recognize cities around the globe that have committed to growing and maintaining their urban forest. 

MEDIA CONTACT
Ash O’Malley, Communications Advisor
ash.omalley@richmondhill.ca