Tree Canopy Strategy

Our Tree Canopy Strategy 2024–2034 guides Council and our community in how we will protect and expand our tree canopy cover over the next 10 years, for the benefit of our community over the next 50–100 years. 

It’s accompanied by 2-year action plans, which outline tangible actions we’ll take alone and in partnership with our community to achieve our targets.

The strategy was informed by feedback we received from our community during consultation. You can find out about what our community told us on Your Say Boroondara.

Key targets

The 3 key targets of this strategy are to:

• increase canopy cover to 27% by 2040 (across public and private land)
• attain 100% compliance with tree planting conditions required in permits
• ensure that no single species makes up more than 10% of trees on public land.

Strategic objectives and actions

To achieve these targets, actions will be delivered in line with 3 strategic objectives.

Grow our tree canopy

To increase our canopy cover, we need to plant trees where it’s practical for them to thrive and survive on public and private land. We’re planting more trees where they’re needed most, to ensure a more even distribution of tree canopy across Boroondara. We’ll do this by:

• increasing tree planting on Council land and when delivering projects
• establishing partnerships with other landowners and managers 
• educating and supporting our community to improve tree planting on private properties
• improving how we measure canopy cover and the accuracy of our tree data.

Protect our tree canopy 

Tree canopy cover is vulnerable to threats and challenges.  To make the air cleaner, help people feel better, and make our cities more liveable, our trees need to be protected. We’ll do this by:

• implementing broad regulatory protection policy
• improving permit conditions and enforcement
• introducing minimum canopy cover measures in private and commercial developments.

Maximise our tree canopy 

Trees have social, economic, cultural and environmental benefits. They’re considered important assets to meet predicted climate challenges. We’re maximising the benefits of trees by carefully designing, managing and integrating trees in Boroondara. We’ll do this by:

• delivering a coordinated, integrated best practise approach for tree canopy management
• ensuring a diverse range of climate-ready tree species are planted
• advocating for improved canopy protection around power lines and other infrastructure assets
• developing renewal programs for significant tree populations within parks and along streetscapes.