A small town west of Montreal has decided to officially recognize trees as living beings with rights of their own, a first in Quebec and Canada. On June 9th, the Terrasse-Vaudreuil town council adopted a resolution declaring that trees deserve protection, including the right to life, natural growth, integrity, and regeneration. Mayor Michel Bourdeau said a Quebec filmmaker’s movie inspired the community, convincing residents that trees are living things that breathe and even communicate through their roots. He compared a tree to a human being, saying it breathes, lives, and protects us.
The town of about 2,000 also became the first in the country to sign on to the Universal Declaration of the Rights of the Tree, an international effort backed by environmental groups. The move passed unanimously and means the town will review its bylaws to make sure trees are protected or replaced if cut down. Supporters note that even corporations have legal personhood, so living trees should, too. The mayor also plans to grow the town’s tree canopy, partly because it has flooded three times in recent years and sees trees as a key ally against climate change.
Source: CBC
