Ottawa short of 40 per cent tree canopy goal

The sun peeks around a tree on Britannia Beach. (Dave Charbonneau/CTV News Ottawa)

Eight Ottawa neighbourhoods are urgently in need of more trees, and half of Ottawa’s wards have lost tree coverage over the past five years, as the City of Ottawa looks to increase the tree canopy to 40 per cent, according to a recent report.

The five-year tree canopy update found the city’s overall tree canopy increased from 34 per cent to 36 per cent between 2017 and 2022, driven mainly by growth in rural areas.

Council approved the Tree Planting Strategy in 2023 to increase the urban tree cover, with the plan including a new Tree Dedication Program, the Plant Your Place! tree planting program and replacing trees that have been removed from the city right-of-way.

The report, which will be discussed at Tuesday’s Environment and Climate Change Committee meeting, shows the tree canopy in the urban area, excluding the National Capital Commission’s Greenbelt, declined from 21.5 per cent to 20.6 per cent.

“Ottawa’s long-term goal of 40 per cent urban tree canopy is achievable, but it faces challenges. Tree loss is immediate, while it can take decades for new plantings to make a visible impact,” said a memo from Nichole Hoover-Bienasz, director of Climate Change and Resiliency Services, and Andrea Lanthier-Seymour, the associate director of Parks Maintenance and Forestry Services.

“With ongoing greenfield and infill development, urban canopy cover may remain flat, or even decline, for the next decade. Retaining mature trees provides the greatest short-term benefit, and when removal is unavoidable, successful compensation depends on having adequate space, soil depth, and soil quality to support healthy new growth.”

The report shows 14 Ottawa wards lost tree canopy between 2017 and 2022, and only three wards are above the 40 per cent threshold for tree cover.

The tree canopy cover ranged from 14 per cent in Somerset, 16 per cent in Barrhaven East and 17 per cent Stitsville and Barrhaven West, to 43 per cent in West Carleton-March, 41 per cent in Rideau-Jock and 40 per cent in College.

The city also looked at 201 neighbourhoods across Ottawa’s urban area for tree cover. Only three wards achieved a perfect score of 100 – Rockcliffe Park, Wateridge Village at Rockcliffe, and Rothwell Heights.

The memo says eight neighbourhoods were identified as “short-term action areas” and “priority areas” requiring trees, with planting to begin in the short-term action areas in 2026.

“Each neighbourhood will be reviewed to understand its specific challenges and opportunities, with input from ward Councillors, community groups, social services, and residents,” the memo said.

“This consultation will ensure trees are planted where they are most needed and wanted. The feedback will shape how existing programs like Trees in Trust, Plant Your Place!, and proactive replacements are delivered, and may also lead to new, tailored planting programs designed to fit each neighbourhood’s needs.”

The eight neighbourhoods are:

• Somerset: Dalhousie – Rochester Heights (short-term action area)
• Somerset: Centretown – Bank Street (priority area)
• Alta Vista: East Industrial-Sheffield Glen-Russell Heights (short-term action area)
• Beacon Hill-Cyrville: Cummings-Cyrville (priority area)
• River: Carlington-Belleview-Lepage-Caldwell (priority area)
• Gloucester-Southgate/Alta Vista: Heron Gate and Heatherington (short-term action area)
• Bay: Bayshore (priority area)
• Barrhaven East: Old Barrhaven East-Rodeo Drive (short-term action plan)

Staff will create plans to roll out tree planting in the short-term action areas during 2026 and 2027.

“Each neighbourhood will be reviewed to understand its specific challenges and opportunities, with input from ward Councillors, community groups, social services, and residents,” the memo said. “This consultation will ensure trees are planted where they are most needed and wanted.”

Here is a look at the tree canopy cover by ward

• Orléans East-Cumberland: 35 per cent
• Orléans West-Inness: 34 per cent
• Barrhaven West: 17 per cent
• Kanata North: 20 per cent
• West Carleton-March: 43 per cent
• Stittsville: 17 per cent
• Bay: 35 per cent
• College: 40 per cent
• Knoxdale-Merivale: 20 per cent
• Gloucester-Southgate: 38 per cent
• Beacon Hill-Cyrville: 25 per cent
• Rideau-Vanier: 21 per cent
• Rideau-Rockcliffe: 30 per cent
• Somerset: 14 per cent
• Kitchissippi: 25 per cent
• River: 25 per cent
• Capital: 24 per cent
• Alta Vista: 22 per cent
• Orléans South-Navan: 22 per cent
• Osgoode: 35 per cent
• Rideau-Jock: 41 per cent
• Riverside South-Findlay Creek: 29 per cent
• Kanata South: 20 per cent
• Barrhaven East: 16 per cent