Vancouver, BC
Round 3
Vancouver, BC
Proposal for Local Sustainability Matching Fund
Fall 2013
Project Title: TreeKeepers
Purpose of Project:
The TreeKeepers Project mobilizes residents and businesses to improve their local environment and
enhance sustainability through the planting and tending of urban trees.
Brief description of project goals, strategy, and key activities:
Vancouver is famous for its natural beauty, but as with many cities in North America it faces pressures
from ongoing development and the loss of the urban forest.
A healthy urban forest is critical to the success of the urban environment. We know that trees improve
air quality, reduce stormwater runoff by capturing rainfall, mitigate and help adapt to a changing
climate, create habitat for birds, insects and animals, produce food, and increase the quality of life for
people. But even residents in a spectacular setting are apt to take the urban forest for granted, and lose
sight of the fact that decisions they make for their own yards and gardens affect the environment of the
entire metropolitan area.
The City of Vancouver’s “Greenest City 2020 Action Plan” includes a goal to improve access to nature,
and a target to plant 150,000 more trees. More than 1/3 of this target needs to be achieved through the
engagement of community members to plant more trees on private property around homes and
commercial areas. Before this project, there was no organization with the capacity to champion
community-led stewardship of the urban forest in Vancouver.
The TreeKeepers Project aims to educate, inspire and involve Vancouver residents and business owners
to create a city of tree stewards. Working with the public’s innate affinity for trees regardless of culture,
age, gender or socio-economic background, the Project aims to improve ecological literacy and further
community engagement while growing the urban forest.
Primary Contact Person
Name:
Hartley Rosen
Title:
Executive Director
Environmental Youth
Alliance
Organization:
Mailing address: 517-119 West Pender St.
City:
Vancouver
Email:
hartley@eya.ca
Telephone:
604.689.4446
State:
Ext:
1
BC
Zip:
V6B 1S5