Londoners with older trees on their property could get some cash from the city to better care for them.
The City of London has rolled out a one-year veteran tree incentive program that will allow people actively caring for older trees to claim up to $1,000.
“The aim of this program is to keep London’s largest, most important trees alive as long as possible while allowing younger trees to thrive,” Sara Rowland, urban forestry planner with the city, said in a statement.
The financial assistance is meant to prevent aging trees from being removed by helping to cover the cost of maintenance. Work that is eligible for city funds includes pruning, having an arborist or arboricultural professional assist in gypsy moth egg mass scraping, or planting new trees near a veteran tree.
Defoliation of trees has become a growing concern in the city as the invasive gypsy moth continues to thrive in the area. Already this year, staff with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority have removed more than 8,000 egg masses from trees in areas of London deemed environmentally significant. As a caterpillar, the Gypsy moth quickly defoliate trees and shrubs year after year, weakening trees and making them susceptible to other stressors.
The pilot program is available on a first-come, first serve basis, the city said. Businesses and condo corporations are excluded for applying for funds through the pilot program.
More information about the program can be found on the city's website or by emailing treeprotection@london.ca.
