Urban Forestry involves the care and management of tree populations in urban settings to improve greenspaces, access to nature, environmental benefits and quality of life. It focuses on planting, maintaining, and protecting trees to enhance and expand urban forests as natural assets, and provide social and economic benefits to the community. A healthy urban tree canopy cools the city by up to 10 degrees, reduces air pollution, and offers green spaces for recreation and relaxation.

We take pride in highlighting our efforts to expand and safeguard our urban canopy. Our goal is to manage and sustain the city’s trees proactively, ensuring they are cared for in an arboriculturally sound and cost-effective way.

What makes an urban tree canopy?

It’s the leaves, branches, and stems of a tree that provide ground coverage when viewed from above. It’s the total shade canopy over a city. 

Why is our urban tree canopy important? 

Trees deliver critical services to our city, and are managed through our Asset Management Program, just like roads, pipes, and other grey infrastructure.

The benefits of planting urban trees extend beyond adding greenery and improving environmental benefits. Trees play a significant role in a community’s socioeconomics. Studies have shown that trees can increase property values, make business districts more attractive, reduce crime rates, slow traffic, and improve residents’ physical and mental well-being.

Environmental Benefits of Urban Trees

Benefits of Urban Trees IMPROVES PHYSICAL & MENTAL HEALTH Trees encourage physical activity and are proven to reduce blood pressure, anxiety, stress and depression. ENCOURAGES TRAFFIC CALMING Street trees naturally reduce the speed in which vehicles travel making roads safer. COOLS AIR & REDUCES ENERGY CONSUMPTION Strategic placement of trees in urban areas can cool the air between 2°C and 8°C Reduce air conditioning needs by 30% and save energy used for heating by 20-50% ONE SMALL TREE CAN PROVIDE AS MUCH COOLING AS FIVE AIR CONDITIONING UNITS. MATURE TREES, 10 UNITS! PROVIDES SHADE Trees cool urban areas by providing shade and absorbing sunlight, drastically reducing surface temperatures and increasing the longevity of roadways, car paint, and other structures. ENRICHES HABITAT & BIODIVERSITY Trees increase biodiversity above and below ground by creating habitats for animals, micro-organisms, pollinators, and other plants. MANAGES STORMWATER Trees absorb water, reducing stress on stormwater systems and mitigating flood risk They also improve soil quality and prevent erosion. IMPROVES AIR QUALITY & MITIGATES CLIMATE CHANGE Trees mitigate climate change by removing carbon dioxide from the air, storing carbon in the trees and soil, and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere Large urban trees are excellent filters for urban pollutants and fine particles. A SINGLE TREE CAN ABSORB ONE TONNE OF CO2 IN THEIR LIFETIME In Canada ONE TONNE of Greenhouse Gases is equal to DRIVING 4500 KMS HEATING A HOME FOR FOUR MONTHS INCREASES PROPERTY VALUES Landscaping, especially with trees can increase property values by 20% and to many, are the single most important indicator of attractiveness in a community.

Selkirk’s Tree Inventory

Selkirk’s Tree Inventory is derived from our corporate Strategic Plan and award-winning Climate Change Adaptation Strategy.

All public trees on boulevards and park spaces are surveyed and monitored for growth, diseases, pests, maintenance, and overall condition using the International Society of Arboriculture standards. This data efficiently plans urban forestry maintenance and planting projects to manage trees as natural assets.

Selkirk manages over 6,000 public trees, including over 100 species, on city boulevards and park spaces.

City of Selkirk staff are measuring and recording trees

Street Tree Policy

Selkirk’s Street Tree Policy, passed in June of 2021, has five objectives:

  • Proactively manage and sustain the city’s Street Trees in an arboriculturally sound and cost-effective manner that provides the greatest environmental, economic and social benefit to residents.
  • Protect our road infrastructure from heat and ultraviolet rays.
  • Relieve pressure from our storm drainage network by using trees to better manage stormwater. 
  • Improve air quality.
  • Through carbon sequestration, reduce the net CO2 emissions of our community.

Public Safety

Just as our roads and sewer lines need replacing from occasionally, so do our trees. Our street tree policy calls for removing trees only for just cause or when public safety is at risk. City-certified arborists also survey and use our tree inventory software to monitor potential risk caused by weak or dying trees. City staff and certified contractors maintain or remove trees in order of priority.  

City of Selkirk Staff planting a maple tree along Manitoba Avenue

Selkirk’s Urban Forest Strategy

Click here to read about Selkirk’s Urban Forest Strategy

Selkirk’s work, so far

We take pride in showcasing the work we do to grow and protect our urban canopy. We strive to proactively manage and sustain the city’s trees in an arboriculturally sound and cost-effective manner that provides the greatest environmental, economic, and social benefit to our residents.

Where we are planting in 2026

We will be planting trees at the following locations in 2026:

  • 2025 replants — various locations
  • Catherine Bay between Mercy and Dorothy Bay
  • Clandeboye Avenue between Eveline and Main
  • Creekside Boulevard between Pearson and Annie
  • Dufferin Avenue between the Waterfront and Sophia
  • Greenwood Avenue between Main and First
  • Greenwood Avenue between Sophia and Easton
  • Main Street between Heap and Vaughan
  • Manchester Avenue between Main and Mercy
  • McLean Avenue between Eveline and Jemima
  • McLean Avenue between Sophia and Mercy
  • Mercy Street between Greenwood and Sutherland
  • Mercy Street between Sinclair and Pittsburg
  • Morris Avenue between Eveline and Mercy
  • Nelson Avenue between Sutherland and Mercy
  • Outhwaite Drive
  • Pacific Avenue between Eveline and Mercy
  • Queen Avenue between Eveline and Jemima
  • Reid Avenue between Eveline and Main
  • Robinson Avenue between Eveline and Sophia
  • Rosser Avenue Jemima and Sophia
  • Selkirk Avenue between Main and Jemima
  • Stanley Avenue between Sophia and Mercy
  • Strathnaver Avenue between Main and Mercy
  • Superior Avenue between Main and Sophia
  • Sveinson Street
  • Tait Street between Reid and Strathnaver
  • Taylor Avenue between Main and Sophia
  • Toronto Avenue between Sophia and Mercy
  • Vaughan Avenue between the railroad tracks and Annie Street
Read about our work below:
Two City of Selkirk Staff smiling and looking at a tree in a park

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. A tree has fallen on or near my property and needs to be removed.
    • The City of Selkirk urban forestry staff or city contractors will remove fallen trees grown on public property. Fallen trees grown on private property are the homeowner’s responsibility.
      If you are unsure of tree ownership, please contact the City of Selkirk Citizen Support Representatives to open a ticket. City staff will assess the tree’s location and determine ownership and responsibility for a resolution.
  2. A dead tree on or near my property needs to be removed.
    • Please contact the City of Selkirk Citizen Support Representatives to open a ticket. City staff will assess the tree’s location and determine ownership, tree health, and responsibility for removal if deemed necessary.
  3. A tree on or near my property has dead or low-hanging branches that must be trimmed.
    • Please contact the City of Selkirk Citizen Support Representatives to open a ticket. The City of Selkirk urban forestry staff or city contractors will trim trees grown on public property as deemed necessary. Trimming trees grown on private property is the homeowner’s responsibility.
  4. A tree on or near my property has orange paint on it.
    • Trees throughout the city marked with orange paint are deemed to have been infected with Dutch Elm disease by the Manitoba government provincial forestry branch. Surveys to identify elm trees infected with this disease are conducted throughout the summer, and trees are removed in the fall and winter. If the tree is located on your private property, you will receive a notice regarding this tree’s removal. For more information regarding Dutch Elm Disease, please visit the Government of Manitoba’s website.
  5. How do I report a suspected pest or diseased tree?
    • If a suspected case is affecting a tree located on private property, please contact Manitoba Forestry’s tree line directly at 204-945-7866 or email treeline@gov.mb.ca. A representative from the province will then conduct an inspection. If a suspected case is observed on a tree on city property (boulevard, median, park) please contact CitizenSupport. City staff will conduct an initial inspection and, if necessary, coordinate further assessment with the province.