Perth secures international tree city award

The City of Perth has been recognised internationally as a 2023 Tree City of the World for its urban forest and greening efforts.

Advising that prestigious award recognises the Council’s work to expand and care for the urban tree canopy across City parks and streets, Perth Lord Mayor, Basil Zempilas explained "trees are incredibly important in the city.

"Not only do they provide a vital habitat for wildlife, they also help cool the City, improve our general well-being and create a more liveable and sustainable City for all.

“Of course, it is not just about the number of trees we plant but how we protect and help them to grow and contribute to the canopy over time. We’ve done the work to provide the right infrastructure and plant a variety of trees that will survive in our harsh climate to be enjoyed for generations to come.”

The Tree Cities of the World program endorses urban forests that are protected, nurtured, managed sustainably, and celebrated for the wide range of benefits they bring to city dwellers.

Lord Mayor Zempilas added “in the past few years we’ve really expanded the way the City promotes and celebrates our trees. There’s some wonderful community planting and celebratory days around the corner, starting with the WA Tree Festival in April and our own month-long investment in Tree Month in May.

“Last year, our inaugural Tree Month saw the city and our community plant more than 300 trees and almost 500 shrubs as part of verge transformations, and this year is set to be even bigger.

“Our National Tree Day event in July also saw 200 volunteers with 3600 plantings completed in no time.”

The City of Perth’s Urban Forest Plan (2016-2036) is a 30-year strategic action plan, designed to promote the long-term benefits of tree canopy cover. Since the launch of the plan, the City has planted more than 7,000 trees.

Run by the Arbour Day Foundation and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, the Tree Cities of the World Program is a global effort recognising cities committed to their urban forests.

Explaining the relevance of the program, Arbor Day Foundation Chief Executive, Dan Lambe stated “we all want to live in a city that is healthy, resilient, and beautiful - trees serve as a common language to make that possible. Being recognised in the Tree Cities of the World program means that your city is committing to go above and beyond to define trees as critical green infrastructure for your citizens.”

Image: The Perth urban forest in the city's Macey Street.