New updated content: 2025-10-06 11:40:26

The second regional Tree Canopy Study has been released. As per the initial 2017 study, it was sponsored by the City of Ottawa, the City of Gatineau and the NCC and covers all the lands under their jurisdiction. The 2022 study shows a slight increase in the tree canopy under City of Ottawa jurisdiction, from 34% to 36%, mostly attributable to an increase in the rural area from 36% to 39%. However, in the urban area, there was a decrease from 21.5% to 20.6%, this against a target of 40%. Many of these findings seem to conflict with views and perceptions communicated to the GA by members and residents over this period. A deep dive to really understand what is driving these numbers and how to interpret these high-level aggregated figures would be very useful to the community. Iola asked how much of the increased canopy cover was due to increased number of buckthorn trees and shrubs in Ottawa.

The report also identified priority areas for immediate action. These were selected using a new Tree Equity Score, which takes into account canopy cover and socio-economic conditions at the neighourhood level. Eight such areas were identified.