Local residents have a civic responsibility to protect Sydney's urban tree canopy, according to Willoughby City Council Mayor Tanya Taylor.
In a speech given at today's launch of the Council's Canopy of Life Tree Festival, Mayor Taylor announced work designed to inspire residents to be more eco-conscious by educating them effectively about trees, as well as new investment in council enforcement of tree protection laws.
As part of her speech, the Mayor:
- Mobilised residents to combat the climate emergency by telling them "everyone has a responsibility" to safeguard the future of Willoughby's urban tree canopy
- Announced Willoughby City Council's intention to increase levels of public understanding about the various ways trees improve lives in local communities by generating clean air, controlling erosion, and combatting the 'urban heat island' effect
- Confirmed the Council is allocating a new staff resource dedicated to tree vandalism investigations and tree protection compliance
The Canopy of Life Tree Festival is the first of its kind for Willoughby City Council, and features a packed programme of interactive walks, talks and workshops. Designed to inspire residents to feel more strongly about environmental issues, the programme includes a keynote talk from Greg Mullins, the charismatic former fire and rescue commissioner, at a day-long symposium titled Conversations on Trees, taking place on 5 June 2024.
Other speakers include Macquarie University's Dr Michael Gillings. To see the full programme visit: https://www.willoughby.nsw.gov.au/Canopy-of-Life-Tree-Festival
