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Daily Read: World

Terrasse-Vaudreuil Recognises Trees as Living Beings

The town of Terrasse-Vaudreuil in Canada has become the first in the country to officially recognise trees as living beings with legal rights. This decision was made after recent floods showed the importance of trees in protecting communities from a changing climate. The town's mayor called trees 'our biggest ally' and pointed out their benefits in cooling streets, cleaning air, managing water, and protecting biodiversity. The town will review its bylaws to ensure trees are properly protected or replaced if they get cut down. This is part of a growing global movement to give nature legal recognition and protect the living world around us.

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The essential points

  1. 01Terrasse-Vaudreuil is the first town in Canada to recognise trees as living beings with legal rights.
  2. 02The decision was made after recent floods highlighted the importance of trees in protecting communities from climate change.
  3. 03Trees provide benefits such as cooling streets, cleaning air, managing water, and protecting biodiversity.
  4. 04The town will review its bylaws to ensure trees are properly protected or replaced if they get cut down.
The full brief

The town of Terrasse-Vaudreuil in Canada has become the first in the country to officially recognise trees as living beings with legal rights. This decision was made after recent floods showed the importance of trees in protecting communities from a changing climate. The town's mayor called trees 'our biggest ally' and pointed out their benefits in cooling streets, cleaning air, managing water, and protecting biodiversity.

The town will review its bylaws to ensure trees are properly protected or replaced if they get cut down. This is part of a growing global movement to give nature legal recognition and protect the living world around us.