Growing Canada’s Community Canopies

• Reduce flood risks by absorbing and slowing rainfall, while roots stabilize soil and prevent erosion.
• Decrease heat island effects by providing shade and releasing moisture through transpiration, which cools the surrounding air.
• Protect buildings by acting as windbreaks, reducing the force of strong winds during storms and preventing structural damage.
• Reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Discover how to ensure your canopies offer climate resilience benefits to your community in our Factsheet: An urban forestry overview.

• Lower energy bills for residents by providing natural shade that cools buildings in summer and act as windbreaks that reduce heating costs in winter.
• Decrease the strain on drainage systems, mitigating flood damage.
• Protect buildings by acting as windbreaks, reducing the force of strong winds during storms and preventing structural damage.
• Offer health cost savings by improving air quality and encouraging physical activity, reducing respiratory issues and related healthcare expenses, benefiting public health budgets.
• Increase employment opportunities for the community through the creation of tree-related jobs.

Learn more about the economic benefits of trees in our Factsheet: Making the case for trees in your community.

• Create safer outdoor and indoor spaces by casting shade and cooling the air.
• Boost physical health by improving air quality.
• Reduce stress, anxiety and depression through environments that promote calm and improve mood.
• Offer health cost savings by improving air quality and encouraging physical activity, reducing respiratory issues and related healthcare expenses, benefiting public health budgets.
• Encourage outdoor social interaction, play and walks.
• Support food security in communities, as certain tree species produce fruits, nuts, seeds, berries and pods suitable for human consumption.

Read how to ensure the health benefits provided by trees are equally distributed to community members in our Factsheet: Advancing tree equity and growing community canopies.

• Help revive areas affected by fires through new growth and restoration of wildlife habitats.
• Create territories and food sources for mammals, birds, insects and fungi.
• Improve soil health and structure, promoting a healthy ecosystem.
• Support diverse species in withstanding pests, diseases and climate fluctuations.
• Support pollinators like bees and butterflies.
• Create safe travel routes for animals.

Explore how tree species diversity supports your local biodiversity in our Factsheet: The role of tree diversity in strengthening urban forests.

• Provide shaded, inviting spaces for social gatherings.
• Offer opportunities for community members to learn about and get involved in local tree planting and maintenance initiatives.
• Serve as integral elements of cultural and spiritual practice, heritage and traditions that express the unique identity of communities.
• Support decolonization efforts through tree planting projects that offer collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
• Create education and Indigenization opportunities through the integration of Indigenous perspectives, knowledge systems and practices in tree planting and maintenance projects.

Find out how you can plant trees for long-term success by involving your community in our Factsheet: The tree planting process.