The Town of View Royal Council in British Columbia adopted its first-ever Urban Forest Strategy on March 23, 2026, to grow and protect local greenery. The plan sets a goal to have 30 per cent of the town covered by tree canopy by 2046.
This new policy was created after a year of talking with the community, where 85 per cent of residents said they were concerned about losing trees. Mayor Sid Tobias said that both new development and climate change are the biggest reasons for tree loss in the area.
Since about 59 per cent of the current trees are on private land, the town will need to work with residents to reach the new targets. The strategy is designed to help the community handle extreme weather and drought while making sure there is enough space for nature and wildlife to thrive.
The plan builds on a Tree Protection Bylaw that was updated in 2024 to better protect species like the Shore Pine. Town staff will now move forward with specific programs and requests to Council to help fund and manage these tree goals.
View Royal currently manages about 1,200 trees along its streets, with maples making up more than half of those boulevard trees. This new 20-year plan brings the town in line with other nearby communities that are also working to increase their green space for future generations.
