WHEREAS the annual Trees Across Toronto Day celebrates our urban forest and seeks to increase the tree canopy with public plantings at designated sites.

Toronto has approximately 860,000 ash trees and it is expected that Emerald Ash Borer will kill most of them by 2017. Ash trees currently make up about 8.4 per cent of the City's tree population. The loss of ash trees over the next six years will be devastating especially in areas that have large numbers of ash trees. With the Emerald Ash Borer infestation and other causes of ongoing tree mortality, it is crucial that we continue to plant trees. Given that 60 per cent of the urban forest is on private property, we need to aspire to planting as many trees as possible on private as well as public property and to remain vigilant in protecting and nurturing our urban forest.

Toronto's urban forest contributes significantly to Toronto's livability. It is our job to plant trees and increase our urban forest so that we can continue to enjoy a green and healthy city.

NOW THEREFORE, I, Mayor Rob Ford, on behalf of Toronto City Council, do hereby proclaim April 28, 2012 as "Trees Across Toronto Day"in the City of Toronto and encourage everyone to plant a tree to help replenish Toronto's urban forest. Every tree counts.