Natural Areas
A natural area is an area of land or water that is dominated by native vegetation in naturally occurring patterns. This includes grasslands, forests, shrublands, wetlands, and riparian areas, which are areas along rivers or streams.
Main page content begins here
As Edmontonians, we value and understand the importance of the city’s urban forest. Edmonton’s trees provide many environmental, ecological, economic, and social benefits. These include sequestering greenhouse gases, reducing damage from stormwater, providing wildlife habitat, reducing costs for winter heating and summer cooling, and promoting a sense of well-being and positive mental health!
The City recognizes the significance of these assets and works to maintain and grow the urban forest. With careful stewardship, the benefits from trees can continue for generations, appreciating over time. Proper management and education are crucial for continuous growth and improvement of the urban forest.
Are you planning any construction or demolition work? Does this work require laydown sites or site access within 5 meters of any City-owned trees or within 10 metres of a natural area? If you are coordinating any activities on or off City property that may have an impact on City trees, visit Public Tree Permit to take the steps required to preserve and protect City trees.
Edmonton’s urban forest includes all the trees within our city. The City of Edmonton manages all trees on City-owned land, including:
A natural area is an area of land or water that is dominated by native vegetation in naturally occurring patterns. This includes grasslands, forests, shrublands, wetlands, and riparian areas, which are areas along rivers or streams.
Naturalization is an ecological way of managing the landscape, transforming land with a manicured aesthetic to a more natural state. Within some naturalized areas, we will plant native species of trees, shrubs and wildflowers.
Boulevard trees are maintained trees growing on City-owned property such as boulevards and right-of-ways, except for trees in natural areas or in a naturalized site.
Open space trees are maintained trees growing on City-owned property such as in parks, except for trees in natural areas or in a naturalized site.
The City is committed to growing, sustaining, maintaining, preserving, and protecting our urban forest. To ensure these goals are met, the City has developed guiding policies and procedures:
Are you planning any construction or demolition work? Does this work require laydown sites or site access within 5 meters of any City-owned trees or within 10 metres of a natural area?
If you are coordinating any activities on or off City property that may have an impact on City trees, visit Public Tree Permit to take the steps required to preserve and protect City trees.
The Public Tree Bylaw requires a permit and tree protection or preservation plan for any work done within five metres of a boulevard and open space tree or within 10 metres of a natural stand.
The City offers several community-driven planting programs where citizens and community groups can get involved in growing and caring for Edmonton’s urban forest. If you are interested in planting a tree on public property to expand the City’s urban forest, there are several options listed below that are available to you.
Online | Contact 311 Online |
---|
If you are calling from outside of Edmonton: 780-442-5311