Burlington, Ont.— July 16, 2025— The City of Burlington has been recognized as a Tree City of the World by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. This marks the third consecutive year the City has received this honour, highlighting Burlington’s continued leadership in urban forestry and its commitment to protecting and enhancing its tree canopy.

Delivering on Urban Forest Master Plan and Woodland Management Strategy

Since Burlington City Council approved the Urban Forest Master Plan and the Woodland Management Strategy in 2024, the City continues to make progress toward its forestry and climate adaptation goals. 2025 key accomplishments include:

• Launching a Significant Tree Maintenance Rebate Pilot to help protect and preserve mature trees on private property.
• Planting and giving away a record 1,000 trees in a single week through the Free Tree Giveaway and Longmoor Park Community Tree Planting event.
• Significant growth in community-supported tree planting initiatives, with an average of 5,000 trees planted annually on public and private land through more than 15 events - building on the success of the City’s first free tree giveaway in 2022.
• Initiating a Meadowway Conversion project along a portion of the Crosstown Trail to enhance biodiversity, support pollinators, and improve the natural beauty of the space.
• A new collaboration with the University of Toronto to conduct aerial surveys of select City woodlands throughout summer and fall 2025. Using drones equipped with specialized sensors, the project will collect detailed data to help detect pests, diseases, and invasive species early, enabling proactive forest management.

In recognition of this achievement, the Tree City of the World certificate was presented to staff yesterday at Council, symbolizing Burlington’s continued commitment to environmental sustainability and the role of trees in creating healthy, resilient communities.

For the latest information and forestry-related engagement opportunities, subscribe to getinvolvedburlington.ca/forestry

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Quotes

Mayor Marianne Meed Ward

“I’m proud to see Burlington recognized for the third year in a row as a Tree City of the World. This honour reflects our city’s deep and growing commitment to protecting our tree canopy and building climate resilience. With Council’s approval of the Urban Forest Master Plan and the success of our community-driven planting efforts, we’re not just planting trees—we’re helping grow a sustainable community for generations to come.”

Enrico Scalera, Director of Roads, Parks and Forestry

“This continued recognition demonstrates the strong commitment of our Forestry team and the community’s shared dedication to preserving and expanding our urban forest. With initiatives like the new significant tree maintenance rebate pilot and Crosstown trail project, we’re creating lasting environmental benefits for current and future generations.”

Michelle Saulnier, Vice President of Programs at the Arbor Day Foundation

“Across borders, trees bring people together. No matter what country we live in or what language we speak, we can all benefit from the positive power of trees. We’re proud Burlington is among the Arbor Day Foundation’s global network of tree champions planting towards a better future.”

About the Arbor Day Foundation

The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. They foster a growing community of more than 1 million leaders, innovators, planters, and supporters united by their bold belief that a more hopeful future can be shaped through the power of trees. For more than 50 years, they’ve answered critical need with action, planting more than half a billion trees alongside their partners. And this is only the beginning.

The Arbor Day Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pursuing a future where all life flourishes through the power of trees. Learn more at arborday.org.

Links and Resources

• treecitiesoftheworld.org/
• arborday.org
• To learn more about forestry initiatives and find opportunities to get involved, visit: getinvolvedburlington.ca/urban-forestry
• To read the Urban Forest Master Plan, visit getinvolvedburlington.ca/ufmp

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