EDMONTON — Albertans whose trees met the wrath of Mother Nature may be able to get some financial help to replace them.
Tree Canada announced Saturday it will provide $83,000 in new funding to help replace trees damaged or destroyed in Calgary’s freak snow storm back in September, and by severe province-wide flooding in both 2013 and 2014.
The Alberta Urban Forest ReLeaf program is open to homeowners, private landowners and municipalities.
In September 2014, just a day after Calgary enjoyed 25°C temperatures, a mass of Arctic air moved in and dumped up to 45 centimetres of snow in some areas. The three-day storm damaged or destroyed roughly one million trees – or half of all trees in Calgary.
READ MORE: Trees in Calgary still recovering after freak September storm of 2014
Flooding in the province over the past two summers uprooted hundreds of mature trees, leaving many municipalities with a severely depleted tree canopy.
“From cooler cities to better air, improving the urban forest will help Albertans see the immediate impact on their communities,” said Michael Rosen, President of Tree Canada.
WHO CAN APPLY?
- Residents – Residents who had individual trees killed by the floods or snow storm can apply for a rebate of up to $500 off the estimated cost of an individual landscaped tree. The online application, and one to two photos of flood or snow damage, can be sent to the Tree Canada Community Advisor for review and approval.
- Landowners – Private landowners who had shelterbelt trees or landscape trees around their yard killed by the floods or snow storm can apply for tree seedlings or potted trees up to a 5 gallon pot size, for a maximum amount of $5,000.
- Municipalities – Municipalities who have had trees killed by the floods or snow storm can apply for replacements to a maximum amount of $10,000.
Those eligible for a rebate are asked to visit Tree Canada’s website and fill out an application. The deadline is July 31, 2015.
Tree Canada is also accepting applications for Alberta Mountain Pine Beetle ReLeaf. The program, first launched in 2010, aims to replace pine trees destroyed by the invasive insect. To see if you or your community is eligible for funding, click here. The application deadline is also July 31, 2015.
Tree Canada is a not-for-profit charitable organization established to encourage Canadians to plant and care for trees in urban and rural environments.
Since 1992, the organization says 80 million trees have been planted, over 550 schoolyards have been greened, and Tree Canada has helped organize 11 national urban forest conferences.
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