Street Trees Management Program

The Vancouver Park Board, through its arboriculture program, is committed to the growth, diversification and enhancement of our street tree population and to the continued health, protection, promotion and management of our urban forest. The Vancouver Park Board looks after 130,000 trees, which decorate the city's myriad of streets. This urban forest is comprised of nearly 600 different kinds of trees. Vancouver has almost 50,000 flowering street tress, including cherry, plum, crab-apple, magnolia and dogwood. Each spring brings a spectacular floral display enjoyed by both residents and tourists.

What Are The Goals Of Street Tree Management Program?

• to substantially increase the City's street tree stock;
• to improve the pruning and care of Vancouver's street trees;
• to effectively respond to the needs and expectations of City residents with regard to the City's street trees;
• to improve the quality of our urban environment; and
• to broaden species diversity.

The Park Board employs over 50 full-time arboriculture staff to inspect, prune, plant and maintain street trees. Additional staff are hired for winter planting and summer watering programs. They are assisted by VanTree, a computerized database system which was developed by Park Board staff to track each tree's vital statistics and maintenance needs, as well as to record inquiries from the public. Street trees are maintained on a seven-year cycle, a scheduled process, which includes a thorough inspection, followed by pruning and other maintenance work tailored to the needs of the individual tree.

What Are The Components Of The Street Tree Program?

• Inspections
• Street Tree Planting Program
• Street Tree Pruning Program
• Street Tree Removals
• Tree Health

How Can You Help?

We encourage the public to take an interest in their street and park trees, welcome citizen input, and always inform residents about planting and removal projects. Homeowners are requested to assist in the watering of newly planted trees, to watch for vandalism, and to be informed about the inadvertent damage that can be caused to young trees from lawn mowers and weed whips. School children and community groups are encouraged to participate in ArborWeek tree planting operations and educated through outreach programs about the care and benefits of our Vancouver street trees. We assist the public with additional street beautification projects, preparing planting sites near the base of trees and even providing flowers, left over from planting in the public parks, for residents to plant around the base of the boulevard trees.

For any street tree concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at 604-257-8600 or through the service request online form.

 

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