In an unprecedented move, the small town of Terrasse-Vaudreuil, located west of Montreal, has officially recognised trees as living entities with distinct rights. This landmark decision, made by the city council on June 9, marks a significant step for environmental protection in Quebec and across Canada. The resolution asserts that trees deserve protection, encapsulating rights to life, natural growth, integrity, and regeneration.
An Inspiration from Film
The town’s mayor, Michel Bourdeau, attributed this inspiring shift to the influence of Quebec filmmaker André Desrochers. His documentary, “Des arbes et des arts,” played a pivotal role in changing the community’s perception of trees, encouraging residents to see them as vital living beings that sustain life and communicate through their extensive root systems.
“A tree is like a human being,” Bourdeau explained. “It breathes, it lives, it takes in water. It protects us from all sorts of things.” This newfound recognition of trees’ intrinsic value has resonated strongly within the community, prompting a unanimous decision among councillors and widespread approval from citizens.
A Commitment to Environmental Stewardship
Terrasse-Vaudreuil, a town of approximately 2,000 residents, has also become the first municipality in both Quebec and Canada to endorse the Universal Declaration of the Rights of the Tree, an international initiative launched by environmental organisations. This declaration establishes three core principles: trees are living beings and a shared human heritage, life on Earth is dependent on their existence, and humans must act in solidarity and fraternity with them.
In light of this resolution, Mayor Bourdeau confirmed that the town will reassess its existing regulations to ensure the protection or replacement of any trees that may need to be removed. Additionally, he expressed plans to enhance the town’s green canopy by offering residents the opportunity to plant new trees, emphasising their importance as a form of “green infrastructure.”
“Trees help reduce urban heat islands, improve air quality, manage precious water resources, and protect biodiversity,” he noted, underlining their multifaceted benefits.
A Natural Fit for Tree Advocacy
Bourdeau sees Terrasse-Vaudreuil as uniquely positioned to champion tree rights due to its wooded landscape and the rural lifestyle cherished by its residents. The community has been acutely aware of the adverse effects of climate change, having experienced significant flooding on three occasions in recent years. In this context, the mayor remarked, “Our biggest ally in fighting climate change is the trees.”
Yenny Vega Cardenas, president of the International Observatory of Nature Rights, highlighted that the declaration on tree rights aligns with a broader global movement. Various jurisdictions around the world, including New Zealand and Colombia, have granted legal personhood to rivers and other natural features. In Canada, the Magpie River in Quebec was granted legal rights by a regional government and the Innu Council of Ekuanitshit in 2021.
Vega Cardenas emphasised the uniqueness of Terrasse-Vaudreuil’s declaration, noting that it acknowledges the ecological significance of individual trees, which serve as ecosystems that provide shade, sustenance, and habitat for various species. “We need to understand that trees have dignity and they have senses,” she explained. “They can feel and they communicate with each other in a very specific way.”
A Step Forward for Nature’s Rights
Lawyer Karine Péloffy from Ecojustice hailed the decision as a “very hopeful gesture” in the broader movement advocating for the rights of nature. She pointed out that while corporations possess legal personhood and rights, they are not living entities. “So if some non-living things can have legal personhood, what’s stopping living beings from equally getting legal personhood?” she questioned, arguing that trees should be granted similar recognition.
“What do trees do if not standing?” she added. “If anything has standing, it’s a tree.” The legal recognition of trees could pave the way for further advancements in environmental law, challenging traditional views on the rights afforded to living organisms.
Why it Matters
The recognition of trees as living beings with rights in Terrasse-Vaudreuil may signal a transformative shift in environmental policy and public perception across Canada and beyond. As communities increasingly grapple with the effects of climate change, this pioneering initiative could inspire similar movements elsewhere, encouraging a deeper appreciation for biodiversity and the ecosystems that sustain us. By acknowledging the life and rights of trees, Terrasse-Vaudreuil not only advocates for environmental stewardship but also reinforces the intrinsic value of nature in our shared world.
