MONTREAL – A groundbreaking decision was made by the city council of Terrasse-Vaudreuil, a small town located west of Montreal, to officially recognize trees as living beings with rights. This historic resolution, adopted on June 9, marks a significant milestone as it is described by an environmental organization as a first in both Quebec and Canada.
The resolution asserts that trees deserve protection, including the rights to life, natural growth, integrity, and regeneration. Mayor Michel Bourdeau credited Quebec filmmaker André Desrochers for inspiring the community through his film titled "Des arbres et des arts." The film played a pivotal role in convincing residents that trees are sentient entities capable of living, breathing, and communicating through their intricate root systems.
Bourdeau expressed his view that a tree shares characteristics with human beings. He emphasized that trees not only provide essential functions such as oxygen generation, but they also play integral roles in safeguarding the environment. He stated, “A tree is like a human being. It breathes, it lives, it takes in water. It protects us from all sorts of things.”
The International Observatory of Nature Rights confirmed that Terrasse-Vaudreuil has also become the first municipality in Quebec and Canada to endorse the Universal Declaration of the Rights of the Tree, an initiative led by environmental organizations globally. This declaration comprises three main articles which assert that trees are living beings and a shared human resource, life on Earth is dependent on trees, and that humans must engage in "fraternity and solidarity" with the arboreal entities.
As part of the new resolution, Mayor Bourdeau indicated that the town will reassess its current rules and bylaws to guarantee the protection of trees or ensure their replacement if removal is unavoidable. Additionally, there are plans to enhance the town's tree canopy by providing trees for residents to plant themselves.
Bourdeau highlighted the critical advantages of trees, calling them "true green infrastructure," due to their ability to mitigate urban heat islands, improve air quality, conserve water resources, and uphold biodiversity. He also pointed out that the unanimous support from councillors for this resolution reflects its popularity among citizens. Furthermore, he anticipates no challenges regarding development, particularly as the town has no vacant land available for building.
Terrasse-Vaudreuil is seen as an ideal candidate to serve as a "tree ambassador," with its surroundings deeply rooted in nature and a community that cherishes a rural lifestyle. Residents have witnessed firsthand the detrimental effects of extreme weather and climate change after experiencing three significant floods in recent years. Bourdeau remarked on the importance of trees in battling climate change, stating, “Our biggest ally is the trees.”
Yenny Vega Cardenas, president of the International Observatory of Nature Rights, discussed the significance of recognizing tree rights as part of a broader trend where various jurisdictions around the globe, from New Zealand to Colombia, are granting legal personhood to natural entities, including rivers. In Canada, a similar move was made in 2021 when the Magpie River in Quebec was awarded legal rights by a regional government and the Innu Council of Ekuanitshit.
Vega Cardenas emphasized the uniqueness of Terrasse-Vaudreuil’s declaration, as it acknowledges that each tree functions as its own ecosystem, offering shade, nutrients, and habitat for various species. She highlighted the need to acknowledge that trees possess dignity and sensory capabilities, stating, “They can feel and they communicate with each other in a very specific way.”
Karine Péloffy, a lawyer with Ecojustice, characterized Terrasse-Vaudreuil's resolution as a "very hopeful gesture" within the broader movement advocating for the rights of nature. She noted that it may not seem so unusual for living beings such as trees to be granted legal personhood when corporate entities already hold such rights despite being nonliving. Péloffy argues, “What do trees do if not standing? If anything has standing, it’s a tree.”
The report was first published on June 21, 2026, and represents a significant step forward in recognizing and protecting the rights and intrinsic value of trees in the municipality of Terrasse-Vaudreuil.
