Adopt- A-Tree for Watering in Vancouver
With a warmer than average summer approaching, the Vancouver Park Board is encouraging residents to join the Adopt-A-Tree program to help keep trees watered in your neighbourhood.
Adopt-A-Tree in Vancouver
The Adopt-a-Tree program supports the establishment of young trees that are less than five years old as Vancouver works to grow the area of its tree canopy by 30% by 2050.
Sign up online to view an interactive map with trees available for adoption near you. Videos and instructions on how to care for your tree will also be provided. In-person sign-up opportunities will also be available through June. Watering bags will be provided to new adopters while supplies last. During watering restrictions trees can be hand watered anytime or between 5:00am and 9:00am any day of the week if using a sprinkler.
“Trees are Vancouver’s hardest-working infrastructure,” said Vancouver Park Board Chair, Laura Christensen. “They provide shade and cooling during heat and slow the flow of rainfall into storm drains to prevent flooding. They also clean our air, support wildlife and make Vancouver more livable. If we want trees to take care of us, we need to take care of them.”
Vancouver has made strong progress in growing its canopy, with current city-wide coverage at 25% (a four per cent increase since 2013). Achieving 30% canopy coverage is ambitious, but achievable for Metro Vancouver’s most developed and densely populated city.
Every year the Park Board plants about 2,000 new street trees in addition to over 50,000 new trees that have been planted in Stanley Park over the last two years. Trees are one of Vancouver’s most important tools for adapting to climate change, but trees themselves are vulnerable to climate change impacts like longer periods of hotter, drier weather. Adopters will care for their trees from June to September when it hasn’t rained for at least four days. While residents can’t adopt mature trees, watering all street trees is helpful during dry periods.
Find more information on the Adopt-A-Tree program on the Vancouver Park Board website. Stay updated on water restrictions throughout the summer
