April 26 is Arbor Day, also known as the “tree planter’s holiday,” and is celebrated all over the world during springtime. We want to honour Arbor Day as an opportunity to consider the role that we all play in maintaining healthy trees and forests and highlight some of the work the municipality is doing to help trees thrive.
Arbor Day is focused on action and doing the work, individually and collectively, to maintain the health of trees. Here are some of the ways that community members are celebrating Arbor Day in 2024.
- plant a tree or native plant and help species like bees, butterflies and birds; for example milkweed is good for the local monarchs that have been struggling in Nova Scotia
- call 311 and select the “Street and Road” option to request to have a tree planted in your neighbourhood
- learn about the municipality’s biodiversity and consider exploring nature challenges where you can record observations of local trees and other species
- pay attention to the emergence of invasive species in the Halifax region and report your observations to the Nova Scotia Invasive Species Council
- become informed about the invasive species Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA); this species is becoming a problem in the region, so knowing what it looks like and how it spreads is key
- consider joining local community group of nature enthusiasts who organize educational events and support local conservation action
The municipality has been recognized as one of 200 Tree Cities of the World by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the Arbor Day Foundation. We earned this designation by showing why we care about trees. Trees offer shade on hot days, they take carbon dioxide from the air and help us manage stormwater flows during heavy rains. They also provide an essential habitat for the species that live in the region. Here are some ways that the municipality is showing care for our trees.
- adopting “nature-based solutions” or developing “green infrastructure” in the form of rain gardens, green roofs and living shorelines, which are often more effective and durable than “grey” or “hard” infrastructure
- planting trees, expanding our urban forest, protecting mature forested habitats and restoring degraded forests; the Urban Forest Management Plan will support the protection and growth of our urban forest going forward
- giving away trees to residents, resulting in 2,500 native trees being distributed for planting
- working with the Urban Forestry team to organize an upcoming community tree-planting event with a local school (stay tuned for details on how to participate)
Nature and Biodiversity
We’re so lucky to be surrounded by nature in the Halifax region, with forests, beaches, lakes, wetlands and barrens all around us. Keeping these ecosystems healthy is vital, as they provide us with clean water, store extra water during floods, clean our air and lower air temperatures. Healthy ecosystems also sequester carbon, which helps mitigate climate change.
Climate change projections for our region show that we can expect weather that is wetter, wilder and warmer than ever. Understanding how nature can help us adapt to these changing conditions is essential for building resilient communities. What’s more, access to pristine natural areas contributes to the magic of the municipality and attracts visitors, locals and new residents alike. Ecosystem health is also essential for our non-human residents such as birds, insects, mammals and plants. The biodiversity of our region depends on availability of healthy and diverse habitat.
Here are some ways we're working to protect and understand nature in the Halifax Regional Municipality:
- We're working with the Natural Asset Initiative on a pilot project in the Nine Mile River watershed to identify key natural assets that play a role in stormwater management and climate resilience.
- We were recently awarded Bird Friendly City status from Nature Canada, and continue to work with communities to make our region safer for birds and other wildlife.
- We released an Integrated Pest Management plan in 2022, and continue to work towards more effective management of invasive species.
- We use nature-based resilient landscaping such as rain gardens and naturalized areas to manage stormwater in our parks, right of way spaces and municipal property. We also provide resources for residents to manage excess water on their property using nature-based solutions at home.
- We encourage residents to plant perennials in the boulevard right-of-way, to promote biodiversity and habitat for pollinators.