A society's values are measured by their treatment of their trees.

— Anonymous

Dear Mayor Rob Ford and the Executive Committee of Toronto:

On July 28 you did a brave thing and invited anyone who wanted to talk to you about the pending city cutbacks to do so. Each person was given three minutes. This is mine.

While many people spoke to you on behalf of those who are unable to speak for themselves — children, the infirm and elderly — I wish to speak to you about another group that is unable to speak for themselves: trees.

This letter is intended to encourage you to consider a plan to double the tree canopy in the city while achieving your goals of cost savings.

I am an advocate for the doubling of the tree canopy in Toronto. And I would like to explain why it is in your best interest to jump on the bandwagon.

Planting and maintaining urban trees is a good idea for many reasons that extend beyond the obvious environmental benefits:

• Trees slow vehicular traffic (fewer cops needed to control speed/fewer accidents).

• Trees increase pedestrian traffic (lower health care costs/greater sense of community).

• Trees get kids out of doors from behind the computer in front of the TV.

• Trees make parks and public spaces usable (what good is an empty park?)

As you contemplate the costs of planting new trees and maintaining the 3 million that we currently have on public property, I propose that you consider a new public/private partnership. A partnership that will get trees planted and maintained at a rate that will double the tree canopy by 2050 and back to the 40 per cent cover that we enjoyed in the 1960s.

Let's develop a plan that lays out the mutual responsibilities of the private citizens, businesses, public employees and community volunteers. This plan will cement relationships between these four groups in a strategic effort to plant the required number of trees and to nurture them to maturity (a key point) to reach our goal.

I believe that there are a lot of people who feel as I do, that saving our current tree asset base and enhancing it through aggressive planting is a worthy cause that the City of Toronto alone does not need to bear.

Here is a short list of organizations that are predisposed to supporting a well thought out plan:

• LEAF: From their website: “LEAF is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the protection and improvement of the urban forest. We envision a city that is healthier because every citizen cares for the urban forest.” Since 1996, they have planted over 16,000 trees. Go to www.yourleaf.org for details.

• Evergreen: From their website (ebw.evergreen.ca): “Evergreen Brickworks is a national charity that makes cities more livable. By deepening the connection between people and nature, and empowering Canadians to take a hands-on approach to their urban environments, Evergreen is improving the health of our cities—now and for the future.”

• Tree Canada: Their mission is “to increase awareness of the urgent issues facing Canada's urban forests and to stimulate action to address those issues.” Their vision “for Canadian towns and cities is a canopy of trees, sheltering and protecting our communities; part of a green infrastructure that promotes habitat, healthy air, clean water, quality of life and economic prosperity.”

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• Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation: From their website ( www.torontoparksandtrees.org): “The Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation promotes philanthropy, corporate support and community involvement to achieve a range of enhancements to the parks system that can no longer be achieved through City funding alone.” That about says it all.

• TRCA: The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority control a lot of public green space in Toronto. We need their support and co-operation. For more information, go to www.trca.on.ca.

The plan for doubling the tree canopy will work best when the youth of the city is engaged. There are many young people who would share our goals to double the tree canopy, if they were aware of those goals and understood what they can do to help make it happen.

I know that it is possible to plant trees and permanent shrubs on public land and have them grow and thrive. Five years ago I was part of a tree planting day that was organized by the city. Over 200 volunteers — mostly youth under 16 — showed up to plant 1,100 native shrubs and trees at the top of Bayview ravine. In the 1960s this area was a garbage dump. Today those trees and shrubs thrive.

They were planted properly, the ground was prepared well, they were mulched and tended to after the planting occurred.

Yes, urban tree planting can be done, but to reach our goal it will have to be done differently. Private/public partnerships, with a focus on a single, attainable goal can work.

Just this morning I met someone who agreed to pledge up to $500,000 to doubling the tree canopy in Toronto if a plan were put in place and resources organized in a sensible way.

How many other individuals and companies would step to the plate under the right circumstances?

I am here to suggest that this is your opportunity to show leadership on an issue that makes an impact on every citizen for the next 100 years.

I suggest that you create a task force that is charged with the responsibility to double the tree canopy by 2050. Now is the time for a private/public plan. Together we can make this happen.

One caveat: we are making this effort to change the nature of our city in a dramatic way for the next generation and the generation after that. In truth, you and I will be long gone when the shade of our trees cools the Toronto of the future.

But trees are our legacy. Our values will be measured by our treatment of them and our success at planting more.

Mark Cullen is an expert gardener, author and broadcaster. You can sign up for his free monthly newsletter at www.markcullen.com, and watch him on CTV Canada AM every Wednesday at 8:45 a.m. You can reach Mark through the “contact” button on his website. Mark's latest book, The Canadian Garden Primer, is available at Home Hardware and all major bookstores.