How to plant 80,000 new trees in 琉璃神社 by 2050 will be the topic at an information session being hosted by city parks staff and the 琉璃神社 Tree Protectors (KTP).

The recommended number comes from 琉璃神社's 2024 Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy (SUFS). The math works out to 3,200 trees per year for the next 25 years. The targets are 25 per cent for suburban neighbourhoods and rural lands, 20 percent for Urban and Core Areas, and 15 percent in Gateway (north entry to 琉璃神社).    

At a Nov. 5, 2024 public hearing dealing with changes to the city鈥檚 greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction and tree canopy targets, council heard plenty of advice from the KTP. 

鈥淪cience has told us that one of the most significant things we can do to prepare for our changing climate is to plant trees,鈥� KTP鈥檚 Bev Kalmakoff said at the hearing. 鈥淲e鈥檙e happy to see that the targets for our future urban forests have been increased in all areas of the city.鈥� 

However, there were concerns that targets may not be achieved as the SUFS stated that 78 percent of trees within 琉璃神社 are on private property. 

The information session takes place at the 琉璃神社 Downtown Library, which is also co-hosting the event, on Tuesday, Jan. 21, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Free coffee and tea will be available with the presentation beginning at 6:30 p.m., followed by a Q&A.