Urban Canopy

Defining the Urban Tree Canopy

The first task of the newly established Urban Canopy Workgroup was to clearly define “Urban Tree Canopy”, to provide a more focused definition of ‘Urban Forest’ and ‘Canopy’ to support the CSLA membership’s endeavors to lend professional support and advocacy to the ongoing health and sustainable growth of the urban forest in general.  

CLICK HERE to read the established a common definition of 'urban canopy

The Urban Canopy Workgroup

In the Spring of 2020, the Committee on Climate Adaptation formed the Urban Canopy Working Group. As of July, 2020, the working group has established its objectives, which are, to partner with arborists, the Canadian Landscape Standard Steering Committee and other stakeholders, such as the Canadian Forestry 
Service and the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association, to:

• establish a common definition of 'urban canopy';
• draft a position paper;
• prepare content for presentation at the Congress;
• create a national trees species planting guide;
• draft a template municipal urban canopy bylaw; and
• create resources and tools for landscape architects.

The development of tools and guidelines supporting our urban canopy supports many of our associations’, government and global objectives, such as:

• IFLA Climate and Biodiversity Action Plan
• Resilient, Transformative and Sustainable: A Positive Approach to a Changing Future (CSLA’s Position Paper on Climate Adaptation)
• The federal government’s promise to plant 2 billion trees
• Municipal urban forest master plans

Members of the Workgroup

Nicci Theroux, Chair
Michelle Legault, Ex-Officio