Arm yourself with information on the incredible, measurable benefits of trees on our climate and infrastructure, our health, economy and safety. Learn more about Winnipeg’s tree canopy.
- Review: Why We Need a Public and a Private Tree Bylaw prepared by Erna Buffie of Trees Please and presented April 20, 2026
- Read the Handout: Trees Please Quick Facts handout.
Winnipeg’s Trees
Over the past few years, the City of Winnipeg has recognized the importance of trees and provided budgets to help fulfill targets set in the Urban Forest Strategy of 2023. We want the City to continue to support our urban trees, and help elect a mayor and council who will continue this support.
Winnipeg had 14,000 fewer public trees than we had in 2015. Sources: Winnipeg’s Community Trends & Performance Report, 2017 report, (page 139) and Winnipeg Open Data. Tree Inventory (291,183 public trees as of December 2, 2021)
Winnipeg’s public trees were on a 31-year pruning cycle. Best practice is every 7-8 years. Source: Winnipeg’s Community Trends & Performance Report, 2022 report, (page 181). The Winnipeg pruning cycle was considerably reduced to around every 12 years in 2024.
In 2020, only 19% of public trees cut down were re-planted. 14,500 public trees were not replaced, and the backlog is growing at a rate of about 2,000 trees per year. Source: State of the Urban Forest Report, 2021. In 2023 and 2024, tree plantings basically matched removals. More trees need to be planted than removed to meet the increased canopy target in the 2023 Urban Forest Strategy.
Winnipeg has the largest urban elm forest in North America. Underfunding puts it at risk. Sources: Global News and Trees Winnipeg
Winnipeg has 350,000 ash trees and it’s expected that 100% of them will die within the next 10-20 years due to disease. About 100,000 of those are public trees. Sources: Winnipeg Free Press and CTV News and Winnipeg Open Data. Tree Inventory
Winnipeg’s existing tree canopy structural value was estimated at $3 billion in 2019: Value is based on services such as reducing cooling and heating costs, helping to manage storm water runoff, reducing demands on drainage infrastructure, and carbon storage. Source: State of the Urban Forest Report, 2021 (page 8)
Climate Mitigation & Infrastructure Benefits
A well-treed neighbourhood can be up to 4 degrees cooler than a neighbourhood without trees. Sources: Arbor Day Foundation and Canopy Org: Benefits of Trees
Trees absorb rainwater, reducing the burden on our combined sewers and aging pipes. Sources: Walkable Communities and American Forests
Young trees absorb CO2 at a rate of 13lbs per tree each year. Source: Urban Forestry Network
Street trees absorb 9 times more pollutants than more distant trees, converting harmful gasses back into oxygen and other useful and natural gasses. Source: Walkable Communities
Losing a single tree can increase wind pressure on nearby buildings and drive up heating costs. Source: University of British Columbia
A large healthy tree can store approximately 65 times more carbon and remove 15 times more air pollution than a small tree. Source: Green Infrastructure Ontario
Investing $1.00 in natural infrastructure will save $6.00 in future climate change costs: Investments in green (including natural) infrastructure can provide a 6:1 Return on Investment — saved in future damages due to climate change. Source: Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Trees can extend the life of roads. Shade from urban street trees can add from 40-60% more life to asphalt roads. Source: Walkable Communities
Safety Benefits
People drive at safer speeds on tree-lined streets. Source: Walkable Communities
Trees are good for public safety. One study found a 10% increase in canopy was associated with a ~12% decrease in crime. Source: Science Direct
Economic Benefits
Of all infrastructure projects, only trees increase in value over time. ROI? Close to $6 for every $1 spent. Sources: Deeproot Green Infrastructure, and City of Edmonton: Urban Forest Management Plan, and Million Trees NYC, and US Forest Service
Investing in tree maintenance saves cities money. For every $1 spent on maintaining trees, residents saved between $1.88 and $12.80 on environmental and cost savings (depending on the city) through erosion prevention, air quality, energy savings and carbon sequestration every year. Source: Special Report TD Economics
Trees are good for business. Stores on treescaped streets show 12% higher income streams. Source: Walkable Communities
A fully forested boulevard will increase your home’s value. Source: Canopy Org
Trees on private property increase property values. The presence of larger trees in yards and as street trees can add from 3% to 15% to home values throughout neighbourhoods. Source: Green Cities, Good Health, University of Washington
A comprehensive ecological study on urban forests in four cities in Florida showed that property values increased by $1586 per tree on average. Science Direct
Health Benefits
Got Clean Air? Got Shade? Thank a Tree Source: The Nature Conservancy
Street trees in urban environments decreases risk of negative mental health outcomes Source: National Centre for Biotechnology Information–Science Reports and Research Gate
Access to green space can reduce stress. Research shows significant relationships between the quantity of green space in deprived urban neighbourhoods and people’s stress levels. Source: National Centre for Biotechnology Information–Science Reports
Treed streets Improve mental well-being. There are fewer suicide attempts (Lee, 2023), a decrease in depression (Dhal, 2025), as well as fewer antidepressants being prescribed for residents who live on treed streets (Marselle, 2020). Higher levels of tree canopy are also associated with a lower risk of dementia (Thomas Astell-Burta, 2020).
Trees reduce environmental noise. Noise pollution is recognized by the World Health Organization as the second most significant environmental stressor after air pollution. Noise can lead to sleep disturbance, cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, and reduced quality of life. Trees absorb, reflect and refract noise levels.
Urban green space can reduce the burden of chronic health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease by promoting physical activity, increase immune system, improve sleep etc. Scientific literature review reveals an extraordinarily broad range of health benefits. Source: Environmental Health Perspectives
Healthy trees remove pollutants from the air by 7% to 24%. Trees can capture up to 50% of particulate matter, significantly improving human respiratory health and preventing illnesses (Ren, 2022).
Mature treed areas improves physical health. People walk more in areas with mature trees. More than 400,000 Manitobans live with diabetes or pre-diabetes. Adults with Type 2 diabetes who perceive their neighbourhoods as more walkable, including treed streets, accumulate more daily steps. (Hajna, 2016).
More scientific studies showing benefits of trees…
Green Cities, Good Health. A University of Washington research project documents a huge number of scientific studies supporting the notion that having gardens, parks, and trees in cities leads to life satisfaction and a positive outlook. The web site provides the scientific evidence that supports efforts to better plan, implement, and manage nature in cities. Research findings are sorted and summarized across benefits themes that include healing, safety, and community building. Source: Green Cities, Good Health, University of Washington, US Forest Service and US Department of Agriculture