Policy brief · Sydney · April 2025
Through reinvigorating urban forests, Australia can restore biodiversity, minimize heat islands, enrich well-being, while establishing cities that thrive alongside nature.
Federal Government Implementation of Residential Tree Canopy Cover Targets
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, and Local Government
The Issue at Hand
As Australia’s cities and suburbs continue to sprawl, the national government has a special opportunity to structure our urban landscape in tandem with the natural world. Development has fixated on housing, commercial spaces, and infrastructure, while enabling the decimation of urban tree canopy coverage in modern developments.[1] Through reinvigorating urban forests, Australia can restore biodiversity, minimize heat islands, enrich well-being, while establishing cities that thrive alongside nature.[2]
Australia’s investment in urban tree canopy coverage would provide a multitude of benefits, such as reverting our streets back to its original landscape, providing benefits such as water retention, soil health and creating habitat for wildlife. Studies have shown promising results for improving mental and heart health through a reduction in air pollution. Expanded tree coverage has proven to reduce temperatures in the proximate area, in turn, lowering energy costs and increasing property value by as much as $16,800.[3]
As current policy stands, this matter is handled on a state by state basis. It should be. Yet, the federal government can play a pronounced role in nudging states in an efficacious way. Federal action should reflect these guiding approaches:
- National Tree Canopy Act – The national government of Australia shall implement targets which outline timeframe, quantity, and which native tree species are suitable to the natural ecosystem of the respected region. It shall be the states, working in cooperation with the national government, to establish what metrics are appropriate and achievable.
- Residential Tree Stipend – The national government of Australia shall grant a singular stipend to property owners. The stipend shall cover the costs for up to 3 trees per residential plot, not exceeding $2,500 Australian Dollar.
- Aboriginal Driven Urban Greening – Public urban greening efforts shall take into consideration the Connecting with Country framework designed by the New South Wales Department of Planning.[4]
- Subsidies for Arborists and Farmers – The national government of Australia shall grant subsidies for arborists and farmers cultivating trees which have met the ecological and state criteria. This subsidy shall remain in place for five years following enactment to offset the rise in demand by state and individual actors.
Research Process
The research process began with concerns levied by two Sydney Morning Herald articles. The first article detailed the scale of the issue, specifically noting how expeditious canopy coverage has declined.[5] The second article reported on recent efforts aimed at minimizing the decline were thwarted due to transition of power.[6] As research progressed, the absence of federal guidelines pertaining to tree canopy coverage in Australia became quite evident. Seeing federal sources lacking significantly in offering substance, turning towards state, local, and professional research offered adequate depth on the benefits guiding the policy proposal. The most notable sources in this regard was the Draft Greener Place Design Guide,[7] and Connecting with Country,[8] guides published by Government Architect New South Wales, and the study Retrofitting the Suburban Garden published by Australian Geographer.[9] Smaller-grassroots recommendations, with a “people-centered” angle, showed to be plausible in crafting actionable items the national government should prioritize. Items that proved useful were an article from the Guardian,[10] and a letter from an Arborist group to the National Urban Policy Committee.[11]
Plan for Continued Research
For the continuation of the policy brief, there are three core areas which need enhancement. These highlight areas will structure the research process and aid in the development of recommendations, anchor the data collection, and understand the differing entities who can add value to the policy proposal.
The previous research, such as the Retrofitting the Suburban Garden published by Australian Geographers, has laid the foundation for understanding the current state of urban tree canopy coverage. What is needed for future research:
- The assessment of current global, domestic, or small scale practices, will serve as models in consideration regarding legislation design.
- Analyzing the current success of existing practices in Australia, such as further research into the Draft Greener Place Design Guide.
- Exploring modes and quantity of funding for federal subsidies to farmers and arboriculturalists and the benefit to individuals granted by the stipend program.
- Further develop statistical and qualitative benefits of increasing urban tree canopy cover.
- Identify prospective partners, such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community leaders and institutions to support and promote urban canopy initiatives.[12]
References
1. Ghosh, Sumita, and Lesley Head. “Retrofitting the Suburban Garden: Morphologies and Some Elements of Sustainability Potential of Two Australian Residential Suburbs Compared.” Australian Geographer 40, no. 3 (2009): 319–46. doi.org.
2. Greener Spaces Better Places. Where Should All the Trees Go? Investigating the Impact of Tree Canopy Cover on Socio-Economic Status and Wellbeing in Australia’s Cities. 2017. greenerspacesbetterplaces.com.au.
3. State of New South Wales (Department of Planning, Industry and Environment). Draft Greener Places Design Guide: Draft for Discussion. Sydney, NSW, 2020. planning.nsw.gov.au.
4. New South Wales (Department of Planning, Industry and Environment). Connecting with Country Framework. 2020. planning.nsw.gov.au.
5. Taylor, Andrew. “No Jobs, No Trees: The Suburbs Where Urban Sprawl Is Hurting Sydney.” The Sydney Morning Herald, June 11, 2022. smh.com.au.
6. Rabe, Tom. “Minister Bows to Developers and Scraps Draft Net Zero Planning Rules.” The Sydney Morning Herald, April 5, 2022. smh.com.au.
7. State of New South Wales (Department of Planning, Industry and Environment). Draft Greener Places Design Guide: Draft for Discussion. Sydney, NSW, 2020. planning.nsw.gov.au.
8. New South Wales (Department of Planning, Industry and Environment). Connecting with Country Framework. 2020. planning.nsw.gov.au.
9. Ghosh, Sumita, and Lesley Head. “Retrofitting the Suburban Garden: Morphologies and Some Elements of Sustainability Potential of Two Australian Residential Suburbs Compared.” Australian Geographer 40, no. 3 (2009): 319–46. doi.org.
10. Norman, James. “‘Planting a Tree Is Hope in Action’: The People Regenerating Urban Habitats and Growing Community.” The Guardian, March 22, 2024. theguardian.com.
11. Caffin, Meg, and Gwilym Griffiths. National Urban Policy Consultation: Submission to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, and Communications. Arboriculture Australia, 2021. infrastructure.gov.au.
12. New South Wales (Department of Planning, Industry and Environment). Connecting with Country Framework. 2020. planning.nsw.gov.au.
Also consulted:
Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water, and the Environment. National Climate Resilience and Adaptation Strategy. 2021. agriculture.gov.au.
Good Canopy Company. Sydney Canopy Cover Data. 2023. goodcanopy.com.au.
GOVT2941: Making Policy in Political Context, University of Sydney, April 4, 2025. The submission notes that ChatGPT and GoogleLM were used to check formatting and spelling and to evaluate the strength and clarity of the proposal.
