On July 20, 2026, Saanich Councillor Nathalie Chambers brought forward a motion asking Council to consider the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights as a framework for informing the District’s Tree Protection Bylaw, Urban Forest Strategy and broader municipal planning. The motion was defeated 8–1 following a lengthy discussion about municipal authority, legal implications and implementation.
Questions from the debate
Would the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights improve municipal urban forest governance—and, if so, how?
That is the practical question Saanich Council needed to answer when it considered the Declaration on July 20, 2026.
Instead, much of the debate focused on whether recognizing tree rights would create legal personhood, court standing, compensation claims or international obligations. Councillors also questioned which version of the Declaration was being considered and what staff would actually be asked to do.
The available institutional documents now provide clearer answers.
What Municipalities Are Asked to Adopt
The Universal Declaration of Tree Rights is part of a broader framework containing several distinct documents and institutions.
For municipal purposes, the two relevant documents are:
- the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights; and
- the Fifteen Commitments of Local and Regional Authorities.
The Declaration provides the ethical principles. The Fifteen Commitments provide a voluntary roadmap for progressively applying those principles through municipal planning, regulation, asset management, education and stewardship.
The proposed International Convention on Tree Rights is separate. It belongs to a potential future international process involving states and competent international organizations. A municipality adopting the Declaration does not thereby join or become bound by the proposed Convention.
What the Declaration Says
The current Declaration contains three short principles:
- A tree is a sensitive living being, a source of life and a common good of humanity.
- Life on Earth depends on the existence of trees.
- Human beings must act toward trees with fraternity and solidarity.
These are ethical and policy principles. They do not, by themselves, establish a new municipal regulatory system.
What Municipal Adoption Does Not Do
Adoption by municipal resolution does not automatically:
- create legal personhood for trees;
- give individual trees standing in court;
- establish a municipal representative authorized to sue on behalf of trees;
- create compensation rights;
- change provincial or federal law;
- override zoning or development legislation;
- bind the municipality to an international treaty;
- transfer municipal authority to an outside organization.
Any binding requirements would still need to be enacted through lawful municipal instruments such as bylaws, official community plan policies, development permit guidelines, budgets, permitting procedures or land-management policies.
The Declaration therefore operates primarily as a statement of values, policy direction and institutional intent.
The Missing Municipal Component
The Fifteen Commitments answer the question repeatedly raised during the Saanich debate:
What would municipal implementation actually involve?
The commitments are organized around five areas:
- governing;
- knowing;
- acting;
- preserving;
- transmitting.
They include such measures as:
- improving municipal tree inventories;
- monitoring canopy and forest condition;
- protecting roots, soils and growing space;
- identifying notable or culturally significant trees;
- considering tree impacts early in development review;
- improving replacement and ecological-compensation practices;
- increasing canopy in underserved areas;
- strengthening public education and stewardship;
- reporting publicly on progress;
- ensuring that future generations inherit an equivalent or healthier urban forest.
These are not fifteen regulations that immediately become enforceable. They are a progressive governance framework that municipalities may adapt to their legal authority, environmental conditions and existing policy structure.
How the Framework Fits Saanich
Saanich already has many of the tools needed to implement parts of this framework.
Urban Forest Strategy
Saanich’s Urban Forest Strategy establishes a long-term target of 44 per cent canopy cover by 2064. It addresses canopy growth, climate resilience, biodiversity, stewardship, monitoring and the integration of urban-forest considerations into municipal decision-making.
The Strategy and the Declaration framework overlap in several areas:
| Declaration framework | Saanich policy direction |
|---|---|
| Understand and monitor the tree resource | Canopy measurement, inventories and performance monitoring |
| Expand canopy | 44% canopy target by 2064 |
| Protect soil and root systems | Tree-retention and development-management objectives |
| Build climate resilience | Species diversity and long-term forest health |
| Recognize ecological and cultural value | Biodiversity, stewardship and Indigenous-relations objectives |
| Improve accountability | Strategy implementation and public reporting |
| Integrate trees into planning | Alignment with the OCP, climate policy and land-use decisions |
The Declaration would not replace the Urban Forest Strategy. It could provide a broader ethical foundation for implementing it.
Tree Protection Bylaw
Saanich’s Tree Protection Bylaw regulates the cutting, removal and damaging of protected trees and establishes requirements for permits and replacement planting.
The bylaw provides enforceable tools, including:
- protected-tree categories;
- removal permits;
- replacement requirements;
- restrictions on damaging activities;
- protection during development;
- enforcement and penalties.
Saanich is also updating the bylaw to strengthen urban-forest management and support the 44 per cent canopy target.
The relationship between the three instruments can be stated simply:
The Declaration explains why trees should be respected and protected.
The Urban Forest Strategy identifies the long-term outcomes Saanich wants to achieve.
The Tree Protection Bylaw establishes enforceable requirements.
Questions Raised at Council
Which Declaration?
A municipal resolution should identify the exact versions of the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights and the Fifteen Commitments being considered and attach both documents to the resolution.
The proposed International Convention should be expressly excluded unless Council is considering it through a separate process.
Would adoption create legal standing?
No—not through a municipal policy resolution alone.
Legal personality, court standing and legal representation are separate legal questions. They are not automatically created by adopting a non-legislative declaration.
Are individual trees or ecosystems being recognized?
The Declaration speaks about trees, while the municipal commitments address the ecological conditions that allow trees and urban forests to survive—including roots, soils, canopy, biodiversity and connected landscapes.
Implementation should therefore address both individual-tree protection and ecosystem function.
Does Saanich already protect trees?
Yes.
Saanich has a substantial urban-forest policy and regulatory framework. Adoption would not imply that no work has previously been done.
The relevant question is whether the Declaration would strengthen the values, priorities or accountability mechanisms guiding that work.
What would staff be expected to do?
Staff could be asked to:
- compare the Declaration and Fifteen Commitments with current Saanich policies;
- identify areas of existing alignment;
- identify policy or regulatory gaps;
- recommend practical measures within municipal authority;
- estimate staffing and budget implications;
- return any proposed binding changes to Council through the appropriate legal process.
Where the Debate Became Misdirected
The main difficulty was not opposition to tree protection.
The discussion combined several distinct issues:
- the original and later versions of the Declaration;
- the municipal implementation commitments;
- the proposed International Convention;
- legal personhood;
- court standing;
- ecosystem protection;
- municipal policy.
Once those matters were blended together, the debate moved quickly from a possible municipal policy resolution to abstract questions about lawsuits, compensation and legal representation.
Those questions may be relevant to the broader Rights of Nature movement, but they were not necessary to decide whether Saanich should receive and assess a voluntary municipal governance framework.
A Model Saanich Motion
A new motion could read:
WHEREAS the District of Saanich recognizes its urban forest as living natural infrastructure essential to biodiversity, climate resilience, public health, cultural landscapes and community well-being;
AND WHEREAS the District has adopted an Urban Forest Strategy, Biodiversity Conservation Strategy, Official Community Plan and Tree Protection Bylaw that provide an existing framework for urban-forest protection, renewal and stewardship;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receive the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights and the Fifteen Commitments of Local and Regional Authorities, with the applicable versions dated and attached to this resolution;
AND THAT Council recognize the Declaration as a non-legislative statement of ethical principles, policy direction and institutional intent;
AND THAT this resolution does not create legal personhood or independent court standing for trees, does not constitute adherence to the proposed International Convention on Tree Rights, does not alter provincial or federal law and does not expand the District’s statutory jurisdiction;
AND THAT staff compare the Declaration and Fifteen Commitments with the Urban Forest Strategy, Biodiversity Conservation Strategy, Official Community Plan, Climate Plan and Tree Protection Bylaw and report back on:
- areas of existing alignment;
- gaps in policy, implementation or public accountability;
- measures that could be undertaken within existing municipal authority;
- staffing, legal and budget implications; and
- any proposed amendments requiring separate Council approval;
AND THAT the review consider tree and canopy inventories, root and soil protection, plantable space, canopy equity, culturally and ecologically significant trees, development impacts, replacement-tree survival and public reporting;
AND THAT any new binding requirement be returned to Council through the bylaws, plans, budgets, permits or other lawful municipal instruments required under British Columbia law;
AND THAT the District invite the author and institutional steward of the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights to provide the official documents, explanatory material and implementation guidance;
AND THAT any invitation for participation by W̱SÁNEĆ and lək̓ʷəŋən governments be developed through respectful government-to-government engagement and according to the forms of participation they consider appropriate.
Would the Framework Improve Governance?
Potentially—but not simply because Council passes a declaration.
Its value would depend on whether it produces measurable improvements in areas such as:
- soil and root protection;
- retention of mature trees;
- viable plantable space;
- canopy equity;
- replacement-tree survival;
- protection of ecological and cultural landscapes;
- transparent reporting;
- integration of tree protection into land-use decisions.
A declaration without implementation could remain symbolic.
A declaration connected to Saanich’s Urban Forest Strategy, bylaw review, development procedures, budgets and public reporting could provide a coherent ethical framework for work already underway.
The relevant question is therefore not whether Saanich can declare that trees matter. Its existing policies already do that.
The question is whether formally recognizing trees as living beings with intrinsic value would change how the municipality measures impacts, resolves competing priorities and holds itself accountable for the long-term condition of its urban forest.
That is a question Saanich can examine within its existing authority.
References
Note: Following the July 20, 2026 Saanich Council meeting, Ricardo Rey—the author and initiator of the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights—provided Saanich Council with official documentation identifying the current institutional framework. Unless otherwise noted, references to the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights in this article refer to the official materials published by La Compagnie des Papillons Bleus, the founding organization and institutional steward of the Declaration.
Primary Sources
Chambers, Nathalie. (2026, July 21). Facebook post regarding the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights following the July 20, 2026 Saanich Council meeting. Facebook.
District of Saanich. (2026, July 20). Council Meeting – Universal Declaration of Tree Rights. Council agenda, video recording and minutes (edited transcript).
https://www.saanich.ca
Universal Declaration of Tree Rights
Rey, Ricardo. Understanding the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights.
https://www.declarationuniverselledesdroitsdelarbre.org/understanding-the-universal-declaration-of-tree-rights/
Rey, Ricardo. Local Authorities and the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights: Principles, Procedure and Legal Scope.
https://www.declarationuniverselledesdroitsdelarbre.org/local-authorities-universal-declaration-tree-rights/
Rey, Ricardo. The Three Founding Articles of the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights (Official English PDF).
https://www.declarationuniverselledesdroitsdelarbre.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/three-founding-articles-universal-declaration-tree-rights.pdf
Rey, Ricardo. The Fifteen Commitments of Local and Regional Authorities (Official English PDF).
https://www.declarationuniverselledesdroitsdelarbre.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/fifteen-commitments-local-regional-authorities-udtr.pdf
Rey, Ricardo. Official Framework of the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights.
https://www.declarationuniverselledesdroitsdelarbre.org/cadre-officiel-de-la-declaration-universelle-des-droits-de-l-arbre/
Municipal Implementation
Municipality of Terrasse-Vaudreuil. (2026). Resolution No. 2026-06-111.
https://www.declarationuniverselledesdroitsdelarbre.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/resolution-2026-06-111-terrasse-vaudreuil-declaration-universelle-des-droits-de-l-arbre.pdf
Rey, Ricardo. English Press Briefing – Terrasse-Vaudreuil and the International Initiative.
https://www.declarationuniverselledesdroitsdelarbre.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/UDTR_Press_Briefing_American_English-1.pdf
Rey, Ricardo. Universal Declaration of Tree Rights in Ontario: Municipal Guide.
https://www.declarationuniverselledesdroitsdelarbre.org/universal-declaration-tree-rights-ontario/
District of Saanich
District of Saanich. Urban Forest Strategy 2024–2034.
https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Community/Documents/Environment/240726_SaanichUFS_8_online.pdf
District of Saanich. Tree Protection Bylaw No. 9272.
https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/tree-protection-bylaw-2014-no-9272.pdf
District of Saanich. Tree Protection Bylaw.
https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/natural-environment/trees/tree-protection-bylaw.html