On December 13, 2023, the Boston City Council unanimously passed an Ordinance Establishing Protection for the City of Boston Tree Canopy. This ordinance provides additional protection for trees on city land, such as trees in public parks and trees on land managed by Boston Water and Sewer Commission, Boston Housing Authority, and Boston Public Schools. Like street trees, currently protected by Chapter 87, these public trees will now require assessment and a public hearing by the tree warden before being removed. We want to thank Councilors Arroyo, Lara, and Breadon for their hard work in developing this ordinance and the Environment Department for providing feedback and suggestions.
This is BIG DEAL: it is Boston’s first such tree ordinance. It is an important step in the right direction, protecting some of Boston’s most mature trees.
But much work needs to be done to ensure that a tree ordinance is successful in growing Boston’s urban tree canopy. First, it will be critical for residents and organizations to become educated and remain engaged and vigilant about these new regulations. We hope that the city, with support from partners, can engage and educate the public and landowners about the value of trees, the ways to protect and care for them, and the new regulations.
Second, the city council, in partnership with the Environment Department and community partners, needs to expand the ordinance to protect all trees in the city, including those on private land. They should look to cities across the Commonwealth and the country as models. With 60% of land in Boston being privately owned, the only way that Boston’s urban forest grows is through a comprehensive ordinance that protects all trees.
You can read more in a WBUR piece by Martha Bebinger from WBUR from December 21, 2023 | 
