The City of Montreal announced a reduction in the funds earmarked for new tree planting and for controlling the emerald ash borer, even as the municipality reports that it has already surpassed the halfway mark toward its 500,000‑tree planting goal for 2030.
Montreal’s urban greening plan set a target of half a million additional trees by the end of the decade. Recent progress checks indicate that more than 250,000 trees have been established across the city’s parks, streets and public spaces, placing the effort well beyond the midpoint of the original ambition. The growth in canopy cover has been credited to a series of planting initiatives launched over the past several years, which have focused on expanding green corridors and improving air quality.
Despite the measurable advance, the municipal council approved a lower allocation for the remainder of the current fiscal cycle. The trimmed budget applies to both the ongoing planting program and the specific measures intended to combat the emerald ash borer, an invasive beetle that threatens ash trees throughout the region. Officials did not disclose the exact amount of the cut, but the decision signals a shift in spending priorities while the city continues to track its overall tree‑count progress toward the 2030 benchmark.