Terrasse-Vaudreuil (Canada) Municipal Resolution: rights of trees

Summary

On 9 June 2026, the municipality of Terrasse-Vaudreuil in Quebec, Canada adopted a resolution that recognizes the principles of the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights and trees “as living entities deserving of protection, including the rights to life, natural growth, integrity, and regeneration.”

Jurisprudential Framing (machine translated)
Titled Municipal Commitment to the Protection of the Canopy and the Recognition of the Fundamental Rights of Trees, the resolution states that “a tree is a living being whose physical integrity and vital needs, both above and below ground, must be respected and protected within the municipal ecosystem.” It also recognizes that the urban canopy and forest constitute an essential green infrastructure for adapting to climate change, reducing urban heat islands, managing stormwater runoff, and preserving biodiversity.

The municipality endorses the three fundamental principles of the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights:
• Article 1: The Tree, a sentient living being and a source of Life, is a common good of humanity.
• Article 2: Life on the planet depends on the existence of the Tree.
• Article 3: Humankind, endowed with reason and conscience, must act with the Tree in a spirit of fraternity and solidarity.

The resolution commits the municipality to “integrating the principles of this declaration into its communications, development policies, green asset management practices, and the modernization of its urban planning regulations” as well as “promoting education, awareness, and citizen participation to foster harmonious coexistence with nature and the protection of the tree canopy”.

It also mandates the Environment Committee to establish “specific targets and innovative measures aimed at the progressive implementation of this commitment, in a spirit of sustainable development and inter-municipal collaboration.”

Universal Declaration
The Declaration was launched in Paris, France on 18 November 2018. It is an international civil society declaration drafted by Ricardo Rey that aims to promote the recognition of the essential role of trees in maintaining ecological balances and their recognition as a subject of law. Since its launch, it has gathered more than 87,000 signatures worldwide.

Background
This initiative follows a screening of the film Des arbres et des arts (Trees and the Arts) by Quebec filmmaker André Desrocher, which sparked a public discussion on the legal status of trees and the possibility of recognizing them as living beings. According to the town’s mayor, the movie convinced citizens that trees are living entities that breathe and can communicate with each other through their root systems (CBC 2026).

Following these discussions, citizens mobilized to advance this initiative, and a formal request was submitted to the Terrasse-Vaudreuil city council through the Environmental Committee, leading to the adoption of this resolution.

Terrasse-Vaudreuil is a town of around 2000 residents 40 miles west of Montreal, Canada. The town’s mayor, Michel Bourdeau, states that by adopting this resolution, Terrasse-Vaudreuil is reaffirming its commitment to building a sustainable future.

Impact Statement

Until now, the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights was a reference text supported by citizens, associations, scientists, lawyers, and communities. With the resolution adopted by Terrasse-Vaudreuil, the declaration’s principles were recognized for the first time by a government body. Terrasse-Vaudreuil thus becomes the first municipality in the world to formally adhere to the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights and to recognize the fundamental rights of trees through a municipal council resolution.

Involved Organizations

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