Perth and Peel regions to receive funding for expansion of urban canopies

A Western Australian Government $3.75 million grant program is aimed at encouraging local governments throughout the Perth and Peel regions to increase their urban tree and vegetation canopy.

The WA Government’s commitment to developing a new 'Urban Greening Strategy' to promote and enhance tree canopy and greening across the Perth and Peel region will will complement the 'Western Australian Climate Policy' and 'Climate Adaptation Strategy', seeking to improve the resilience of the State's cities and regions, with key stakeholder and community input anticipated to commence in mid-2024.

The developed 'Urban Greening Grants Program' will assist local governments to plant trees and understorey vegetation, increasing urban canopies in a bid to combat climate change.

Funding for the program has already been allocated to the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) through an agreement with the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, with WALGA managing and implementing the program.

Successful grant applicants for the program's first round will be finalised by the end of February.

WA Environment Minister Reece Whitby noted "Urban canopies can help fight climate change in several ways.

"They reduce heat island effect by providing shade and cool air, absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and releasing oxygen, storing carbon in their biomass, and increasing rainfall retention, and reducing stormwater runoff - leading to a more sustainable water cycle.

"By promoting biodiversity, and reducing the need for artificial cooling and heating, urban canopies can help cut greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change's impacts."

WA Environment and Climate Action Minister Reece Whitby added "'Western Australia's Climate Adaptation Strategy' and 'Climate Change Policy' recognise the need to improve our resilience to climate change, including responding to increasing temperatures across our communities.

"There are many benefits of green spaces for liveability, health, biodiversity, and climate resilience, and we are creating a strategy that will encourage, facilitate and enhance our urban green environment across all areas of Government.”

More information on the strategy at www.wa.gov.au/government/announcements/greening-perths-urban-communities