Two Nova Scotia communities are among 27 across Canada receiving new funding to expand tree canopies and improve local well-being.
The Town of Antigonish and the Municipality of East Hants are included in a list of communities selected under the Growing Canada’s Community Canopies (GCCC) initiative. The program is supported by the Government of Canada’s 2 Billion Trees Program and delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) through its Green Municipal Fund.
Nationwide, $16.9 million will support the planting of 77,519 new trees in eight provinces, with trees being placed in parks, along streets, near institutions, and in ecologically sensitive areas. In Nova Scotia, the focus will be on enhancing public green space, restoring canopy lost to storm damage, and improving urban biodiversity.
The trees provide a host of benefits—from reducing the risk of flooding and heat waves, to improving mental health and air quality. The initiative also supports local jobs in tree planting and maintenance.
