New policy highlights benefits of trees

A draft policy that spells out how Christchurch City Council will manage the planting, protection, maintenance and removal of trees on public land will soon go out for public consultation.

The Draft Tree Policy 2020 acknowledges the integral part trees play in reinforcing Christchurch’s reputation as the Garden City and the vital role they play in carbon sequestration and helping to combat climate change.

It sets out how the Council intends to ensure that a tree renewal programme is maintained for future generations and how it plans to manage the maintenance of trees in parks, reserves, roads and other public places that it looks after.

The Draft Tree Policy also outlines under what circumstances trees will be removed and provides guidance on how public requests for the removal of the trees should be dealt with.

The Council’s Sustainability and Community Resilience Committee will consider the Draft Tree Policy on Thursday 27 August. With the Committee’s approval, it will go out for public consultation in September.

Read the report on the Draft Tree Policy.

Council staff are also working on an Urban Forest Plan, which will align with the Tree Policy.  At the core of both documents is a desire to increase the tree canopy in Christchurch.