Management of the Urban Forest

Cover of the Halifax Urban Forest Management Plan. The image is a colourful, stylized illustration featuring trees integrated with iconic Halifax buildings, homes, and infrastructure. The landscape includes community landmarks, urban and suburban neighbourhoods, and natural elements like a lighthouse, wildlife (a moose, eagle, and birds), and forests. The artwork uses soft watercolour textures with a rainbow palette. The title "Halifax Urban Forest Management Plan" appears at the top in bold blue text.

A long-term vision for the Halifax region’s trees

The Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP) outlines Halifax Regional Municipality’s strategy to care for, grow and protect the trees that make up the region’s urban forest. Trees are essential infrastructure—supporting cleaner air and water, reduced urban heat, increased climate resilience, and improved health and well-being for communities across the municipality.

Originally developed in 2013, the UFMP has now been updated and approved by Regional Council to guide the next 25 years of urban forest stewardship. This plan reflects current environmental challenges, equity priorities, and the evolving needs of a growing region. 

View the Urban Forest Management Plan (PDF) 

What the plan includes

This infographic summarizes Halifax’s 25-year Urban Forest Management Plan. It outlines a 2050 vision for a sustainable, resilient urban forest with five objectives, 17 strategies, and 109 actions. Key themes include equity, conservation-growth balance, and community stewardship. Halifax will plant at least 1,000 net new trees annually. The plan was shaped by extensive public engagement and includes both Indigenous and Western perspectives.

The updated plan begins with an overview of the Halifax region’s tree canopy and highlights the role trees play in supporting public health, climate protection and community well-being. 

It outlines how the municipality will plant and maintain trees, manage risk, and improve long-term care. It also provides direction for better integration of trees into planning, development and public infrastructure projects. 

Equity is a key focus. The plan incorporates input from African Nova Scotian, Mi’kmaw and other Indigenous communities, newcomers, francophone residents and persons with disabilities. Through this input, actions have been included to reduce barriers to participation and to recognize and reflect the diverse ways communities relate to trees, land and the natural environment. 

Education and stewardship are also prioritized. The plan introduces new opportunities for residents to learn about the urban forest and take part in its care. Progress will be monitored and the plan reviewed regularly to ensure it continues to meet the needs of the region. 

Public consultation and engagement 

The updated plan was shaped through extensive public and stakeholder engagement in 2024. The first phase of engagement took place in February 2024 to inform the plan’s vision and goals, and the second phase over the summer of 2024 to collect community feedback and perspectives on the draft.  

The process was developed with a strong equity lens and prioritized the inclusion of historically underrepresented communities. 

Engagement highlights include: 

  • Community conversations and facilitated workshops with African Nova Scotian, Mi’kmaw and other Indigenous communities, newcomers, francophone residents and persons with disabilities 
  • Ongoing collaboration with subject matter experts and community partners 
  • Use of inclusive practices such as Two-Eyed Seeing to blend Indigenous and Western knowledge systems 

To learn more about how public input helped shape the plan, visit the engagement page.