Program Helps Address Urban Forest’s Growing Needs

A program that offsets the cost of Winnipegger’s planting trees on their own property has grown roots for another year.

Property owners can apply to Winnipeg ReLeaf for packages that let them buy trees for $55 each, and it comes with access to a tree planting workshop, technical support and follow-up after planting.

In recent years, the city’s urban forest has been hit hard by Dutch elm disease.  Another invasive speices, the emerald ash borer, is expected to make its way into Manitoba soon.  While the city already helps with replanting efforts on public property such as parks and boulevards, many of the trees the new pest will kill will be on private property.

Trees Winnipeg (formerly the Coalition to Save the Elms) will deliver the Winnipeg ReLeaf program in partnership with the City of Winnipeg and with volunteer support from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).

“The City of Winnipeg’s own tree planting program simply won’t be able to keep pace with the damage caused by emerald ash borer, but homeowners can get a head start by planting trees before this pest arrives,” said Kerienne La France, executive director, Trees Winnipeg.

This is the third year the program is being offered.  Homeowners can download the list of tree packages and the registration form at the link below

LINK |  Winnipeg ReLeaf – Registration Form

The deadline to register for the program is May 15.  The planting workshops and tree distribution will take place at the end of May. 

-News4 Staff-

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