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

Summary

On 9 June 2026, the municipality of Terrasse-Vaudreuil in Quebec, Canada adopted a resolution (Resolution No. 2026-06-111) 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.”

Resolution No. 2026-06-111 is a municipal resolution expressing an institutional commitment and providing for progressive implementation within the municipality’s powers. It does not, by itself, confer general legal personhood upon trees, establish judicial guardians or create a complete regime of rights directly enforceable before courts. Any binding legal effects depend upon subsequent policies, regulations, administrative decisions and other implementation measures adopted by the municipality within its jurisdiction.

Universal Declaration
The Universal Declaration of Tree Rights was authored and initiated by Ricardo Rey in Paris, France on 18 November 2018. La Compagnie des Papillons Bleus is its founding organization and official institutional steward responsible for the development, preservation, updating, presentation, representation and institutional dissemination of the Declaration and its associated instruments. The declaration promotes recognition of the Tree’s intrinsic value, its essential role in maintaining the conditions of life, and the progressive development of ethical, political and legal frameworks for its effective protection. Since its launch, it has gathered more than 87,000 signatures worldwide.

Background
With the Universal Declaration already being launched internationally in 2018, the local process that contributed to the adoption of the Terrasse-Vaudreuil municipal resolution followed a screening of the film Des arbres et des arts (Trees and the Arts) by Quebec filmmaker André Desrocher. 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). Citizens mobilized to advance a formal request that 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. Within the framework of the international initiative developed by La Compagnie des Papillons Bleus, Terrasse-Vaudreuil became the first local public authority in the world to formally adopt this specific Universal Declaration of Tree Rights by means of a municipal council resolution.

Involved Organizations

Related Initiatives