Volunteers Distribute Free Trees to Boost Centretown's Low Canopy Coverage
Centretown NeighbourWoods, a volunteer group formed in 2021, is distributing 50 free tree saplings to residents in downtown Ottawa to help replenish the neighborhood's declining tree canopy. The initiative addresses the fact that approximately one-quarter of trees on municipal rights-of-way have been removed since 2017 without replacement. Centretown currently suffers from one of the lowest tree canopy coverage rates in the city, with the Somerset ward recording only 14 percent in 2022, significantly below Ottawa’s 40 percent urban goal. Residents can select from 15 native species, with trees ranging from three to five feet tall. The distribution takes place on a first-come, first-served basis at the McNabb Community Centre. Coordinator Darlene Pearson emphasizes the importance of planting the right species in suitable spaces, acknowledging challenges like hard surfaces and overhead wires. This local effort complements broader city initiatives, such as the Plant Your Place program, which aims to distribute 2,500 trees across Ottawa. The project highlights community-driven environmental advocacy aimed at improving urban greenery and ecological health in dense inner-city neighborhoods.
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Volunteers Distribute Free Trees to Boost Centretown's Low Canopy Coverage
Centretown NeighbourWoods, a volunteer group formed in 2021, is distributing 50 free tree saplings to residents in downtown Ottawa to help replenish the neighborhood's declining tree canopy. The initiative addresses the fact that approximately one-quarter of trees on municipal rights-of-way have been removed since 2017 without replacement. Centretown currently suffers from one of the lowest tree canopy coverage rates in the city, with the Somerset ward recording only 14 percent in 2022, significantly below Ottawa’s 40 percent urban goal. Residents can select from 15 native species, with trees ranging from three to five feet tall. The distribution takes place on a first-come, first-served basis at the McNabb Community Centre. Coordinator Darlene Pearson emphasizes the importance of planting the right species in suitable spaces, acknowledging challenges like hard surfaces and overhead wires. This local effort complements broader city initiatives, such as the Plant Your Place program, which aims to distribute 2,500 trees across Ottawa. The project highlights community-driven environmental advocacy aimed at improving urban greenery and ecological health in dense inner-city neighborhoods.
Ottawa Citizen