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We were saddened to see so many trees lost in Wednesday’s freezing rain. Here are a few photos of downed trees across the city.
A fallen tree in Centretown (credit: @sjamieiet).
A downed tree along the Trillium Pathway near Somerset (credit: Barbara Greenberg).
A downed tree across a road (credit: Hydro Ottawa).
As many have commented, this great loss of trees highlights the urgent need to strengthen our urban forest canopy: tree-threatening weather events will only increase as we feel the effects of climate change.
At the same time, trees are critical to combatting the effects of climate change: they cool down our communities during hot weather, soak up water during storms, provide habitat for birds and animals, filter and clean the air, sequester carbon, and improve mental health.
So what can you do to strengthen Ottawa's urban forest canopy?
Here are a few things:
- ask your councillor to fully implement the Urban Forest Management Plan's 26 recommendations
- identify places in your neighbourhood where the City could plant trees, and make a request
- visit us at the Great Glebe Garage Sale on May 27 to pick up a free seedling to plant on your property
- sign our petition to defend Ottawa's trees
- join us on April 20 for a film screening of Call of the Forest at the Bytowne Cinema
Together we can make a resilient, green Ottawa!
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Ecology Ottawa Voices Support for Tree-Planting Strategy
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We delegated to City Council's Environment and Climate Change Committee at their June 18 meeting on the City's Tree-Planting Strategy. In short: it's great, but doesn't go far enough. Read our delegation here!