Toronto Tree Facts
How many trees are in Toronto right now?
About 11 million.
What happens to temperature when trees are removed?
The area gets hotter.
What natural events knock down lots of trees fast?
Windstorms
How many trees does Toronto plant every year?
Around 120,000.
What big natural system runs through Toronto and has tons of trees?
The ravine system.
What is Toronto’s current tree canopy percentage?
Around 28%.
What is the name for areas that get super hot because they lack trees?
Heat islands.
What pest killed a huge amount of Toronto’s trees?
Emerald Ash Borer.
Why does the city plant native species?
They survive better in Toronto’s climate.
Name one major ravine in Toronto.
Don Valley (or Humber, Rouge).
What year did the Emerald Ash Borer start heavily damaging Toronto’s ash trees?
Around 2007–2008.
How much can tree shade reduce ground temperature (in °C or °F)?
Around 5–10°C cooler (or 9–18°F).
How many trees can Toronto lose in one major ice storm?
Thousands.
What is one city program that helps plant trees in neighborhoods?
The “Tree for Me” program.
What % of Toronto’s forests are inside ravines?
More than 60%.
How many ash trees did Toronto lose because of the Emerald Ash Borer?
Around 860,000.
Which pollutant do trees help absorb to clean the air?
Carbon dioxide (CO₂).
What % of Toronto’s trees are now at risk from pests, weather, and development?
Around 40%.
What is one benefit of planting trees in heat islands?
It reduces extreme heat for people living there.
Why are ravines important for wildlife?
They act like “highways” for animals moving through the city.
What is Toronto’s long-term canopy goal written in its official Urban Forest Plan?
40% canopy cover.
How do trees lower flooding in cities like Toronto?
Their roots absorb water and slow runoff, lowering flood risk.
Why is losing big, mature trees worse than losing young ones?
They store more carbon, give more shade, and take decades to replace.
How does Toronto decide where trees are needed the most?
They use canopy maps, heat maps, and neighborhood equity data.
What is the main reason Toronto can’t build houses inside ravines?
The land is protected and too risky (flooding, erosion, habitat protection).