Trees for Elmwood

Elmwood

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/09/2023 (865 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The end of summer brings changes to Winnipeg’s trees that some people might dread as signs of the upcoming winter, but others can enjoy for the bright colours of the changing leaves.

For Trees Winnipeg, August was a chance to present the people of Elmwood with information about these important plants, as well as an opportunity to buy a variety of trees to help keep Winnipeg green.

According to the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s website, the government of Canada has committed to planting two billion trees by 2030 as a “natural climate change solution,” part of the United Nations Environment Programme’s Trillion Trees Campaign. The Elmwood Community Tree Presentation and Sale is a small way that people can become involved in this campaign.

Trees have a vital role in keeping communities healthy. According to the Nature Conservancy’s website, a single large tree can provide enough oxygen for up to four people to breathe in a day. Trees clean the air and water, store pollutants, provide habitats for a variety of animals, give shade from the sun, and provide other benefits to people and the environment.

Despite their many benefits, trees are under threat in many parts of Canada. Urban development often involves the loss of trees, and fires can destroy large forests in only minutes. In Winnipeg, insects and disease are also major factors in the loss of the tree canopy. As the Trees Winnipeg website notes, “Winnipeg’s urban forest faces significant challenges from insects and disease, climate change, urban development, and resource strains.”

Over the past years, two of the major threats to Winnipeg’s trees have been Dutch elm disease and the emerald ash borer. Many trees have died and have had to be removed to deal with these threats. When these factors are combined with storms that can tear branches off trees and cold winters that can kill the hardiest trees, the threats to Winnipeg’s leafy cover are numerous.

Ordinary people cannot plant a million trees or make laws that prevent the loss of urban forests, but they can still do their part. The recent tree presentation and sale gave residents of Elmwood a chance to learn more about what trees might be right for their area and to buy something to help enhance the neighbourhood’s tree cover.

The tree presentation and sale is over, but people can still become involved in preserving Winnipeg’s tree cover. Every new tree can help.