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A City of Melville couple made headlines when local councillors ruled they could not cut down a tree to renovate their home.
It might sound like a small local issue, but it’s indicative of the urgent need to protect and grow Perth’s urban tree canopy.
Urban tree canopy refers to trees over 3 metres tall that grow in cities, towns and suburbs.
These trees, along with shrubs, bushes and smaller plants on public and private land in liveable neighbourhoods, form our ‘urban forest’.
“Trees provide many benefits such as essential habitat for local wildlife, biodiversity, shade and better amenity and walkability in residential areas,” City of Vincent Mayor Alison Xamon says.
Perth has the lowest tree canopy of all Australian capital cities at 22%. With climate change heating our city, this is becoming a major problem.
Credit: nearmap
THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM
Perth’s lack of canopy cover isn’t just bad luck.
Increased infill development – building homes closer together in existing suburbs – often comes at the cost of mature trees.
While there are rules about preserving green space on public land, private properties are another story.
“Sadly, we see many trees lost as part of private developments,” Alison says. “The reality is that there are limited planning rules that require trees on private properties to be retained, and as a result, many trees are removed during development.”
There’s also the growing threat of pests like the polyphagous shot-hole borer, an invasive beetle that has wiped out over 4000 trees in Perth since 2021.
The heat we seek to mitigate by planting trees can also severely impact the tree canopy. With the record-setting high temperatures and dry conditions over the past two autumns, 45% of the vegetation in the Perth region experienced poor health.
Credit: Orderinchaos (Own work)/Wikimedia commons
TREE-MENDOUS WORK TO BE DONE
The Western Australian Planning Commission has identified that an abundant tree canopy is beneficial for the community, the environment and the economy.
Increasing the urban tree canopy by just 5% can lower city temperatures by up to 2.3ºC. That’s a massive difference when you consider that Perth summers are regularly breaking heat records.
Cooler, greener spaces also encourage people to spend time outdoors, supporting better physical and mental health.
And trees aren’t just for shade. They absorb carbon dioxide and improve air quality, creating healthier neighbourhoods for everyone.
The Western Australian Government is working with key stakeholders to reach a target of 30% urban tree canopy in the Perth and Peel regions by 2030. The re-elected Labor government has committed to planting 1 million trees before 2035.
Credit: Western Australian Planning Commission
Local government authorities, including the City of Vincent, are stepping up as well.
“Some of our initiatives include an annual winter planting program, offering residents a chance to ‘Adopt a Verge’ and request new street trees outside their homes, holding a yearly native plant sale, underground power and allowing people to nominate outstanding trees onto our ‘Trees of Significance’ inventory,” Alison says.
She also notes the need to call on the state government to do more.
“We continue to call for the introduction of stronger and more robust planning laws to retain significant trees on private land.”
DON’T STOP BE-LEAFING
The future of Perth’s urban tree canopy doesn’t only rest on the shoulders of scientists and councillors – everyone has a part to play.
Reporting tree health changes to the Canopy Resilience Project or your local government can help generate action before it’s too late.
Perth’s trees aren’t just background scenery. They’re a crucial defence against a hotter, harsher future.
