The City values its urban forest, actively expanding and preserving it. Careful management and education ensure lasting benefits for future generations.

trees beside road and stormwater pond

As Edmontonians, we value and understand the importance of the city’s urban forest. Edmonton’s trees provide many environmental, ecological, economic and social benefits. These include:

  • Sequestering greenhouse gases
  • Reducing damage from stormwater
  • Providing wildlife habitat
  • Reducing costs for winter heating and summer cooling
  • Promoting a sense of well-being and positive mental health

Public Tree Permit

  • Are you planning any construction or demolition work?
  • Does this work require laydown sites or site access within 5 meters of any City-owned trees or within 10 metres of a natural area? 

If you are coordinating any activities on or off City property that may have an impact on City trees, take the necessary steps required to preserve and protect City trees.

Get a Public Tree Permit

Urban Forest Ambassador Program

The Urban Forest Ambassador Program is a free resident awareness program dedicated to protecting Edmonton’s elm and ash trees.

Explore the Urban Forest Ambassador Program

Community Planting and Educational Programs

The City offers community planting programs for citizens and groups to help grow Edmonton's urban forest. Several options exist for planting trees on public property to expand the forest.

Grow Together Program

The Grow Together program offers communities the opportunity to partner with the Urban Forestry team to plant new trees in their neighbourhood.

Commemorative Tree Program

Honour loved ones or celebrate special occasions through a commemorative plaque and pedestal displayed near a newly planted tree in the City’s parks and open spaces.

Request to Plant Trees

Interested in planting trees on public property? Submit a proposal.

Tree Donation Program

The Tree Donation program offers citizens an opportunity to donate a privately-owned tree to the City for planting on public property.

Learn how the City’s programs maintain a healthy, safe and sustainable tree canopy.

Learn about planting, watering, pruning, and controlling pests and disease to steward Edmonton’s urban forest.

Root for Trees is a tree planting initiative which increases tree planting within the City.

Parts of the Urban Forest

Edmonton’s urban forest includes all the trees within our city. The City of Edmonton manages all trees on City-owned land, including:

Natural Areas

A natural area is an area of land or water that is dominated by native vegetation in naturally occurring patterns. This includes grasslands, forests, shrublands, wetlands, and riparian areas, which are areas along rivers or streams.

Naturalized Area

Naturalization is an ecological way of managing the landscape, transforming land with a manicured aesthetic to a more natural state. Within some naturalized areas, we will plant native species of trees, shrubs and wildflowers. 

Boulevard Trees

Boulevard trees are maintained trees growing on City-owned property such as boulevards and right-of-ways, except for trees in natural areas or in a naturalized site.

Open Space Trees

Open space trees are maintained trees growing on City-owned property such as in parks, except for trees in natural areas or in a naturalized site.

Plan, Policy and Procedure

The City is committed to growing, sustaining, maintaining, preserving and protecting our urban forest. To ensure these goals are met, the City has developed guiding policies and procedures:

Urban Forest Management Plan

The Urban Forest Management Plan outlines key principles, objectives and strategies.

Corporate Tree Management Policy and Procedure

The Corporate Tree Management Policy and Procedure outlines roles and responsibilities in managing the City of Edmonton Urban Forest and outlines mechanisms to ensure preservation and protection. The Policy will be applied using the Guidelines for Evaluation of Trees and the Natural Stand Valuation Guidelines.

Tree Preservation Guidelines

The Tree Preservation Guidelines provide information on how to preserve and protect trees before, during, and post construction or demolition to prevent or minimize the likelihood of tree loss or damage.

Dutch elm disease is a deadly fungal infection spread by beetles that live under elm bark.

Emerald ash borer is a deceptively attractive beetle that poses a serious threat to our urban forest.

Contact Us

311 Contact Centre

Phone  311 | Outside Edmonton and Video Relay Service (VRS): 780-442-5311 | TTY 711

Contact 311 Online