Port Moody earns global ‘Tree City of the World’ designation for urban forest stewardship

The City of Port Moody has been recognized for its urban forestry efforts, earning 2025 Tree City of the World status from the Arbor Day Foundation and the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization.

The designation, announced in a March 23 press release, highlights the city’s ongoing investment in planting, maintaining and protecting trees as part of a broader strategy to enhance livability and environmental resilience.

Mayor Meghan Lahti said the recognition reflects years of policy development and community initiatives aimed at strengthening the city’s urban forest.

“This recognition from respected global organizations reflects our dedication to maintaining, protecting, and enhancing Port Moody’s urban forest,” Lahti said, pointing to the city’s Urban Forest Management Strategy, Tree Planting Plan and recently updated Tree Protection Bylaw.

“We’re creating a livable, resilient city where our urban forest supports the health and well-being of our community and the exceptional environment in which we live.”

To qualify for Tree City of the World status, municipalities must meet five standards, including establishing clear responsibility for tree care, maintaining a legal framework for managing trees, tracking local tree resources, dedicating funding to forestry programs and hosting annual public education events.

Port Moody met those criteria through a combination of long-term planning and on-the-ground initiatives, the release stated.

Council adopted its Urban Forest Management Strategy in 2023, setting out a 30-year vision for preserving and expanding tree canopy.

The strategy includes a detailed tree inventory, which includes more than 4,500 street trees and tracks species diversity and age.

More recently, council moved to strengthen protections through an updated Tree Protection Bylaw in 2026, expanding regulations on tree removal across both private and public lands while requiring replacement planting and supporting long-term canopy targets.

The city says it has also focused on expanding canopy cover through its Tree Planting Plan and encouraging participation from residents. In 2025, Port Moody distributed 375 free trees to residents as part of an annual giveaway program, an initiative set to continue this year.

Urban forests play a critical role in mitigating the effects of climate change and urbanization, including reducing heat, improving air quality and limiting stormwater runoff, which has been an issue of growing concern in Metro Vancouver amid increasingly frequent extreme weather events.

The international Tree Cities of the World program recognizes municipalities protecting urban forests to improve sustainability and health of their citizens. 

U.S.-based nonprofit, Arbor Day Foundation, has helped plant more than 500 million trees worldwide since 1972, while the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations leads global efforts to promote sustainable forest management and food security.

The designation reinforces Port Moody’s position as it continues to balance development pressures and population growth with stewardship of the environment, according to the city.