FAQs

The City of Nedlands is commited to growing our urban forest and managing our green infrastructure in a sustainable way. An Urban Forest Strategy will set out the City's current and future actions towards achieving this commitment.

Trees are vital to our urban environments, serving as the frontline of defence against urban heat and climate change. A healthy urban forest provides many ecosystem benefits, including air filtration, carbon sequestration, and soil stabilisation. Additionally, trees offer shade, which reduces energy consumption for cooling, and they contribute to biodiversity by providing habitats for fauna. Importantly, their presence in urban areas promotes mental well-being and community cohesion while adding aesthetic value to the surroundings.

The consultation seeks to gather community input on urban trees and green spaces. By understanding residents' values, priorities, and concerns, the City can develop a strategy that aligns with the community’s vision and expectations.

You can share your thoughts by completing the online survey here on Your Voice Nedlands. The survey is designed to capture your opinions on urban forestry priorities, tree planting, and the management of green spaces. The UFS is currently in the first stage, which involves gathering community feedback. After this stage, the City will draft the strategy, seek further input, and finalise the document. Updates on progress will be provided through Your Voice as well as through the City's social media channels.

All residents, business owners, and stakeholders within the City of Nedlands are encouraged to participate. The City values diverse perspectives and wants to hear from everyone who has an interest in the local environment.

Your feedback will be carefully reviewed and analysed to identify key themes, concerns, and priorities. This information will directly inform the development of the Urban Forest Strategy to ensure it reflects community values and aspirations.

The strategy will enhance the quality of life in the City of Nedlands by creating cooler, greener, and healthier neighbourhoods. It will improve environmental sustainability, provide habitat for local wildlife, and ensure that future generations enjoy the benefits of a thriving urban forest.

The term urban forest refers to the collection of trees and other vegetation within urban areas, including parks, streets, front yards and backyards. It's not just about individual trees but the interconnected ecosystem they create in our cities and towns.

The health and extent of the urban forest can be assessed by measuring a city’s canopy cover. Council recently undertook a state-of-the-art aerial canopy mapping project to measure tree canopy and urban heat. Have a look at how your suburbs rates below. This canopy cover information will assist Council in effectively managing the Nedlands urban forest by providing crucial data for informed planning, resource allocation, and policy development to enhance tree planting, maintenance, and preservation efforts.

The graph below shows canopy cover per locality within the City of Nedlands.

Trees that grow on Council managed land, such as streets, verges, and parks, and are managed and maintained by the Council.

Trees that grow on privately managed land, such as residential and commercial land, and are managed by the land owner/occupier.

• Trees endemic to the region are trees that naturally grow around the City of Nedlands, and have grown in the area before the land was urbanised.
• Trees native to Australia are those that grown naturally on the Australian continent, including eastern states and detached islands. 
• Exotic trees are trees that originate from other countries, and have been intentionally introduced to the local region.