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Tree cities of the world

The City of Windsor in the UK has been recognized by the international program Tree Cities of the World to highlight the city’s efforts in growing and maintaining the city’s urban forestry efforts. Sources: Timberbiz, BBC News

The Arbor Day Foundation is the world’s largest non-profit membership organization dedicated to planting trees. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.

Both organizations came together in 2019 to found Tree Cities of the World. The program is a global effort to recognize cities and towns committed to ensuring that their urban forests and trees are properly maintained, sustainably managed, and duly celebrated.

“The Forestry & Natural Areas Department is very excited about this recognition,” said City Forester Yemi Adeyeye.

“We see this as an encouragement to continue to deliver on tree canopy and natural area improvement programs and working with our residents and partners to celebrate trees and natural heritage sites as valuable City assets.”

Windsor has earned recognition as a Tree City in the program’s third year. To earn Tree Cities of the World recognition, Windsor demonstrated its commitment by meeting five program standards: establish responsibility for the care of trees, set rules to govern the management of forests and trees, maintain an updated inventory or assessment of local tree resources, allocate resources for a tree management plan, and hold an annual celebration.

Another UK city that achieved “Tree City of the World” is Ipswich and it has attained that status for a second year. With more than 60,000 trees, Ipswich is one of 168 locations from 21 countries to receive the accolade.

Other areas across the UK to have been recognised include Birmingham, which retained the title for a fourth year.

In Australia Burnside (SA), Canberra, Charles Sturt (SA) Lake Macquarie (NSW), Mitcham (SA), Unley (SA) and Victoria Park (WA) also made the list.