On Wednesday, Sept 17, Vancouver Green Party Councillor, Pete Fry, made an important motion at City Council:
Greening the City – Enhancing Livability and the Tree Canopy Through Healthy
Afforestation.
This was an important motion to Free the Fern, as it was focused on expanding our urban forests through afforestation + Miyawaki “mini-forests”:
🌿These “mini forests” are whole ecosystems, not just trees;
🌿It prioritizes planting in climate-vulnerable and low-canopy areas; and
🌿It develops funding and programs to ensure the long-term care of the forests
Grace Nombrado, Free the Fern Executive Director, got the word out about the motion through email and on our Free the Fern Instagram.
A number of local community members wrote letters to City Council in support of the motion.
On Wednesday, Sept 17, Grace eagerly waited all day, as the council meeting started at 9:30am. Finally, after 5:30pm, the Motion was presented by Pete Fry.
Grace then spoke up in support of the motion.
The motion then went to a vote:
And it passed unanimously!
We hope the passing of this motion will lead to more support and funding for future native plantings in our city (including in the Champlain Heights Trails).
Thanks everyone who supported this motion!