The town of Terrasse-Vaudreuil, west of Montreal, has become the first municipality in Quebec and in Canada to formally sign the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Trees. Its town council unanimously adopted a resolution recognizing trees as living beings with rights to life, natural growth, integrity and renewal.
Mayor Michel Bordeleau said, “A tree is like a person, because it breathes, lives, absorbs water and protects us in many ways.” The town has about 2,000 residents.
The declaration says trees are living beings and a common asset of humanity, that life on Earth depends on their existence, and that people should treat them with fraternity and solidarity.
As part of the initiative, the municipality will review existing regulations to better protect trees or ensure replacement when they are cut down. It also plans measures to increase tree cover, including distributing trees to residents for planting.
