The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) along with the Arbor Day Foundation has recognized Burnside with Tree Cities of the World designation. The international program celebrates cities across all continents that meet core standards for the care and planning of urban trees and forests.
To achieve recognition, Burnside met the five core standards: establish responsibility, set the rules, know what you have, allocate the resources and celebrate achievements.
“The Tree Cities of the World program recognises the efforts cities take toward greener, healthier communities,” said Hiroto Mitsugi, assistant director general, Forestry Department, FAO. “The most successful urban landscapes are those that have factored trees into the plan. We applaud Burnside’s work to plant and care for its urban trees.”
“Burnside joins cities around the world that have taken steps toward robust and healthy city forests,” said Dan Lambe, president, Arbor Day Foundation. “Trees clean our air and water, provide shade, and beautify the places we live and work. This designation signifies Burnside’s commitment to being a healthier, happier city.”
Burnside Mayor Anne Monceaux said this outcome was another milestone moment for Council in their efforts towards climate change mitigation and environmental management and associated initiatives, following the climate emergency declared in 2019.
“Burnside joins cities such as London, Paris and New York,” Mayor Monceaux said. “We can always do more, and this latest announcement, a true privilege, complements our other sound programs including switching to LED street lighting, renewable power, biodiversity programs, waste education and campaigns and the urban forest interactive website.”
“Trees are the lungs of our planet and are vital to sustaining life on earth; playing a critical part in our own City but of course the global ecosystem.”
The Tree Cities of the World program is built off the success of the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA program, which has provided recognition to cities within the United States for more than 40 years. The vision of the Tree Cities of the World program is to connect cities around the world in a new network dedicated to sharing and adopting the most successful approaches to managing city trees and forests.
Trees provide multiple benefits to a city when properly planted and maintained. They help to improve the visual appeal of a neighbourhood, increase property values, reduce home cooling costs, remove air pollutants and provide wildlife habitat, among many other benefits.
