The Ajax Urban Forest Study, 2023, examines the distribution of canopy cover by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) land use type, available planting opportunities, size and species composition, the structural value of the forest, and forest function. Additionally, the report explores change since the last assessment completed in 2009, the potential future state of the forest, and urban heat mapping and planting prioritization.
Aurora
Aurora Urban Forest Study, 2024
Aurora Natural Capital Asset Management Plan 2024, takes on a long-term outlook in the sustainability of Town-owned natural assets by incorporating them into existing asset management planning processes.
Brampton
The tree planting target is 1 million trees by 2040, and the Brampton One Million Trees Program Strategy sets the actions to achieve it.
Burlington
The Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP) and Woodland Management Strategy were approved by City Council in 2024. The UFMP story map provides more information on city canopy cover, canopy by height and tree type, municipal tree inventory and urban forest equity
Caledon
The Town does not have an Urban Forest Plan but participated in developing the Peel Region Urban Forest Strategy.
Clarington
Clarington's Urban Forest Strategy provides broad direction for urban forest planning. The Plan will be updated in 2025.
Dufferin County
Our Forest, Our Future: Dufferin County Forest Operating Plan (2021-2026) outlines how environmental, economic, and social sustainability will be achieved for the Dufferin County Forest over the next five years, building on the County’s strategies as outlined in the twenty-year management plan (2016-2036).
Durham Region
The Region does not have a formal plan, but it is noted as a future action in Envision Durham - the Durham Regional Official Plan.
Guelph
Urban Forestry Management Plan (UFMP) was first approved in 2012. The most recent update on UFMP implementation was provided on August 2020.
The canopy target is 40%, as per UFMP.
The 2019 Guelph Urban Forest Study Report provides technical details related to tree canopy variations across different land types (e.g., vacant, industrial, private, public, etc.) and at the neighbourhood level. This report helps inform the implementation of the next phase of UFMP.
Halton Region
Halton Region's Five-Year Operating Plan provides a summary of management activities completed during the 2015-2019 operating period, identifies activities for the 2020-2024 operating period, and provides a discussion of current and potential management issues.
Hamilton
In June 2023, Hamilton city council approved its Urban Forestry Plan update and aims to increase its urban tree canopy to 40 percent by 2050, effectively doubling its current canopy. The City is working on a tree equity study.
King
1) The Tree Management Plan for King Township Report addresses the state of trees and policies and plans for managing the trees on public lands.
2) Parks & Forestry Mater Plan, 2019
3) The most recent State of the Forest Report was prepared in 2021 by York Region where, canopy cover in King Township was measured at 34.3% and woodland cover at 26.5%.
Tree canopy is approaching the recommended range of 36% to 41%. And 26.5%, woodland cover is within the recommended range of 26% to 28%.
An update to the King Forest Study was completed in early 2025.
Kingston
The City is currently working with the Climate Leadership Working Group (a body of community leaders tasked with providing input and peer review to inform City-wide implementation of the Climate Leadership Plan) to implement the Food and Forestry actions of the Climate Leadership Plan.
London
2020-2030 Business Plan Urban Forestry provides an overview of the budget and key activities to implement the Corporation's 2019 to 2023 Strategic Plan, as well as an overview of the anticipated risks and challenges forestry services during this period.
Markham
Markham, in collaboration with TRCA and York Region, completed the Markham Urban Forest Study which provides recommendations to further the City-wide urban forest cover. As part of those recommendations, Markham has begun to develop a 20-year strategic Urban Forest Management Plan, which will develop goals for the urbanized area of Markham and the protection, maintenance, and growth of the urban forest canopy including the soil and soil volume.
Newmarket
Newmarket's Urban Forestry Management Plan presents information on current and best urban forestry practices, and opportunities where Newmarket can be even better, covering the following areas:
• Urban Forest Tree Inventory
• Tree Maintenance Plan
• Tree Establishment and Planting Plan
• Tree Protection
• Invasive Species & Noxious Weeds Management Plan
• Outreach and Public Engagement Plan
Oakville
The Town of Oakville has an Urban Forestry Plan that was approved in 2020 and is presently in the process of being updated.
Ottawa
Putting Down Roots for the Future is a 20-year strategic Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP) for the City of Ottawa. This plan was approved by Ottawa City Council in June 2017 and has 26 recommendations for growing Ottawa’s urban forest and making it healthier, more diverse and resilient. The UFMP and its recommendations have been developed based on input from City staff, other stakeholders and members of the public, assessments of the current status of the urban forest management and planning framework in Ottawa, and accepted best practices.
The UFMP is intended to provide the strategic and technical guidance required to achieve urban forest sustainability in Ottawa over the coming decades.
Region of Peel
The Region of Peel’s Best Practices and Strategies for the Urban Forest emphasizes the critical role of trees in mitigating climate change and enhancing community resilience. This strategy includes adopting best practices for urban forest management, prioritizing tree preservation, and increasing canopy cover in urban areas. Through this approach, Peel aims to improve air quality, reduce urban heat islands, and create healthier, more sustainable communities.
The implementation of the Urban Forest Management Plan has been initiated. It will be implemented by the Transportation Division over four years and will include an annual operational plan and will be rolled out to all other service areas after the first year. Each of the operational plans will have their own set of goals and timelines to achieve the objectives of Peel's Long Range Urban Forest Strategy.
Richmond Hill
The City’s Urban Forest Management Plan was approved by Council in 2020. It proposes a 30% total canopy cover target and a sub-target of 15% woodland cover.
Action 1.3.2 in the Urban Forest Management Plan provides direction to explore partnership opportunities to develop a planting prioritization tool, to optimize City programs and resources and the provision of urban forest services by planting trees more strategically throughout the City, taking into consideration heat islands, vulnerable populations, climate change, natural heritage features, biodiversity, canopy cover targets, population density, etc.
In addition, every ten years, the City completes an Urban Forest Study to examine: the distribution of canopy cover by land use type; available planting opportunities; size and species composition; structural value of the forest; and the condition of the forest. The most recent Urban Forest Study was conducted in 2022, and it provided a series of recommendations, including that the City work with York Region to customize and utilize the Region’s tree planting prioritization tool for Richmond Hill to improve equitable canopy cover distribution.
Toronto
Toronto’s Strategic Forest Management Plan provides the direction necessary to achieve a healthy, sustainable urban forest. It includes the following six strategic goals:
Increase canopy cover
Achieve equitable distribution
Increase biodiversity
Increase awareness
Promote stewardship
Improve monitoring
Vaughan
The City of Vaughn published it's Urban Forest Management Plan in 2024.
The plan outlines a long-term vision to manage the urban forest; goals, recommendations and targets to achieve the vision; and a financial analysis to guide implementation.
Vaughan’s targets are 17% total woodland cover and 25%-35% total urban tree cover based on the York Region Forest Management Plan.
Waterloo Region
Regional Forest Management Plan consists of several elements or modules including:
1. Provides a general overview of forest management as it applies to the Regional Forests;
2. Presents the philosophical and policy approach being taken;
discusses forest and property management issues;
3. Provides general information about the overall Regional Forest system;
articulates the goals and objectives to be pursued over the term of the plan; and
4. Provides guiding principles and operating guidelines for all management activities.
Windsor
The City is developing an Urban Forest Management Plan, expected by the end of 2023.