One hundred thousand trees in four years —and the city still looks about the same.
But the effect is so much more than that, said Coun. Peter Hume at the city’s celebration of the planting of its 100,000th tree through its Trees Reforestation and Environmental Enhancement program yesterday. Since 2007, the city has been working with residents to plant in people’s front and backyards and in other urban areas across the city, he said.
Planting new trees increases the forest cover, said Hume, chair of the planning and environment committee.
“Trees not only look good and are good for the environment, they’re incredibly good for property values,” he said. “We want to do our part to keep property values strong.”
Trees also keep the city cooler in the summer, Hume said.
Although this is the end of the program, Hume plans to ask city staff where to go from here.
“I think we’ve got to continue this program. We have to continue to do more,” he said.
