Terrasse-Vaudreuil, a municipality just 40 miles west of Montreal<\/a>, declared that trees have \u201cthe right to life, to natural growth, to integrity and regeneration\u201d. <\/p>\n The resolution, which was obtained by CBC<\/a>, was adopted by the town of around 2000 residents on June 9. <\/p>\n \u200bMayor Michel Bourdeau told the broadcaster<\/a> that the move was adopted unanimously by councillors and that he does not predict the plan causing any problems, such as interfering with development. \u200b<\/p>\n Under the new resolution, the town will review its existing rules and bylaws to ensure that trees are protected or replaced if they are cut down.<\/p>\n Bourdeau, whose town has been flooded three times in recent years, noted that the trees are \u201cour biggest ally\u201d in fighting climate change. \u200b<\/p>\n \u201cTrees are a true green infrastructure,\u201d he noted. \u201cThey help reduce urban heat islands, improve air quality, manage precious water resources and protect biodiversity.\u201d<\/p>\n Quebec<\/a> filmmaker Andr\u00e9 Desrocher inspired the community to take action through his film Des arbres et des arts, Bourdeau added. According to him, the movie convinced citizens that trees are living entities that breathe and can communicate with each other through their root systems.<\/p>\n \u200b\u201cA tree is like a human being,” Bourdeau said. \u201cIt breathes, it lives, it takes in water. It protects us from all sorts of things.\u201d<\/p>\n The International Observatory of Nature Rights says that the town is the first municipality in both Quebec and Canada<\/a> to sign onto the Universal Declaration of the Rights of the Tree, an international initiative spearheaded by environmental groups. <\/p>\n \u200bThe three core articles of the initiative suggested that life on Earth<\/a> depends on the existence of trees, that humans must act in \u201cfraternity and solidarity\u201d with them, and that trees are living beings and a common human good.\u200b<\/p>\n Yenny Vega Cardenas, the president of the International Observatory of Nature Rights, told CBC that trees have \u201cdignity\u201d and \u201csenses.\u201d<\/p>\n Clarifying, she said, \u201cNot sentiments, but senses.\u201d\u200b<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1258469503...jpeg\")
A Canadian town has recognized trees as living beings with rights of their own (AFP\/Getty)<\/p>\n![\"Under](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-22-at-10-27-14.png\")
Under the agreement, Terrasse-Vaudreuil declared that trees have the ‘right to life, to natural growth, to integrity and to regeneration’ (Google Street View)<\/p>\n