Have you considered investing in your community’s urban tree canopy? This factsheet is designed specifically for municipal staff, including urban foresters and climate action teams, who are involved in enhancing and managing their community’s green spaces. This resource will help you develop a strong business case to elected officials for investing in your community’s urban tree canopy by highlighting the numerous environmental, economic and social benefits that urban forests offer.
How investing in urban forests benefits local governments
Establishing a long-term vision that prioritizes urban forests as critical urban infrastructure is a cost-effective investment that provides numerous municipal services to the community, such as:
- Offering green infrastructure services that municipalities are already responsible for, including stormwater management, air quality improvement and carbon sequestration.
- Reducing the impacts of climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide, reducing the urban heat island effect and managing stormwater during heavy rainfalls.
- Increasing resilience to climate impacts like flooding and heatwaves.
- Improving health and well-being with better air quality, more shade, reduced stress, and more greenspaces for recreation and social interaction.
Trees provide vital ecosystem services Ecosystem services are benefits that nature offers to support well-being. Trees provide carbon sequestration, stormwater management, cooling and air filtration. These services are extremely valuable because they make cities more resilient to climate change. For example, the annual value of ecosystem services by the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario, which includes the Niagara regions and portions of the City of Hamilton and Haldimand, is estimated at $331 million. | Trees are a low-cost way to create climate-resilient communities Trees help absorb and slow stormwater runoff, reducing flood risks. Their roots stabilize soil, preventing erosion, while their canopies can shield against strong winds. Although trees can be vulnerable to storm damage, well-planned urban forests are better able to withstand severe weather events. Investing in green infrastructure delivers substantial returns. For example, urban forests in Toronto have demonstrated up to $3.20 for every $1.00 invested. | Trees can help improve public health Trees foster community health and well-being by providing green spaces for recreation and social interaction. They improve public health by reducing stress and air pollution. For example, PaRX is a nature prescription program that emphasizes nature as a tool for improving mental and physical health. |
Six steps for building a business case for your urban forest
A strong business case for your urban forest can help secure support and funding for tree initiatives in your community. The following six steps provide a structured approach for assessing the value of urban forests, engaging the right stakeholders and driving decision-making.
Step 1: Assess ecosystem services
Develop a list of the benefits trees can provide in your community and collect data on the ecosystem services they provide (e.g., stormwater management, air quality improvement, etc.).
Action: Consider conducting a needs assessment for your community (e.g., reducing heat islands, managing stormwater and promoting biodiversity) to determine which needs are a priority and which tree species can help meet those needs. You can make use of various data sources for this process, including publicly available census information, heat mapping and flood risk maps. Many municipalities are using the Natural Assets Initiative’s Roadmap Program to help kickstart their natural asset management journey.
Step 2: Conduct an economic analysis
Help decision-makers understand that trees are a cost-effective infrastructure investment by analyzing the value they provide and the cost of replacing them. Integrate this analysis with existing asset management systems to compare the value of natural assets (trees and green spaces) with built assets (roads and buildings).
Action: Seek out examples from other municipalities and academic research to quantify the economic benefits of urban forests, such as energy savings and increased property values. These can be estimated for a given municipality using the i-Tree Eco tool.
Step 3: Engage people
Use a tailored approach to engage different groups within the boundaries of the municipality. This means recognizing the unique needs and interests of various groups and adapting engagement methods accordingly. Consult widely using different methods (e.g., surveys, public forums, community conversations, etc.) to gather input from as many community members as possible—particularly from equity-deserving groups. These diverse perspectives will reveal insights into the importance of urban forests in your community.
Action: Embed equity into your urban forest project. The Tamarack Institute’s Guide for Advancing Climate Equity Through Place-Based Collaboration has ideas, stories, resources and best practices that can help.
Step 4: Tell the story
Use stories and tangible data to make the case to decision-makers and the broader community. Focus on the benefits that resonate most with your audience (e.g., economic, environmental, social, health-related, etc.).
Action: Consider how urban forests can help achieve municipal commitments towards reconciliation and equity goals, particularly for areas of need and in underserved communities (e.g., neighborhoods with limited access to green spaces or those experiencing urban heat islands).
Step 5: Start small
Start with small, achievable actions such as developing policies and/or bylaws that ensure newly planted trees are climate-resilient, pest-resistant and tolerant to local conditions.
Action: Begin by assessing whether your municipality has existing policies, bylaws or plans that support climate-resilient tree planting and protection. If such frameworks are absent, outline a set of steps to initiate their development (e.g., forming a working group of key stakeholders, conducting a gap analysis of current practices, consulting with urban forestry experts, drafting initial policy proposals and engaging the public/council for feedback). If policies or bylaws already exist, consider reviewing and updating them to ensure they’re effective and relevant to current environmental challenges.
Step 6: Ensure effectiveness
Ongoing monitoring and evaluation are essential to understanding the successes and challenges of your project. Ensure that you define clear indicators, use the appropriate technology for data collection (e.g., GIS mapping, drones, remote sensing) to monitor tree health and growth, changes in canopy cover and other key indicators.
Action: Regularly publish reports and updates on the performance of your urban forest. Highlight successes, best practices and lessons learned.
Trees are integral to your community
Planting and protecting trees in your community is more than a beautification effort. Trees are essential assets that provide environmental, social and economic returns. They are a low-cost way to make your community more climate-resilient while providing essential ecosystem services, improving public health and inspiring people. Strategies for making the case for urban forests can help you work with your community to achieve these vital benefits and have a long-lasting impact.
This resource was created in partnership by Tree Canada and FCM’s Green Municipal Fund for the Growing Canada’s Community Canopies initiative, which is delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada.