The Urban Forest in Mahone Bay

Trees are integral to any healthy community - for plants and animals large and small, and for people of all ages. The benefits of a healthy forest include reduced impacts from flooding and erosion, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, increased natural habitat, supporting mental and physical health, providing cooling and shade, supporting food security, enhancing air quality, reducing noise and improving property values, to name a few. Because of all these benefits, the simple act of planting a tree can have significant impacts for many decades and centuries.

Get Involved:

1. Do you have a suggestion for a tree planting location? Click here to go to the town tree map! For more information about using this online tool, we have a guide that might help.

2. We want to know what you think of the town's draft Urban Forest Management Plan! Click here to fill out the survey!

The Town of Mahone Bay is developing an Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP) to improve the health of the trees in the town, and the benefits they provide, to increase native biodiversity, and maintain a balance of net zero tree loss. An UFMP acts as a roadmap for a community to protect, maintain, and grow its urban forest by planting new trees each year and improving the health of the existing trees. The plan has the following seven goals:

  1. To plant trees in town each year, prioritizing native and near-native species, to reach our canopy target.

  1. To establish a pruning program for the health of street trees while reducing conflict between vegetation and electrical distribution services.

  1. To maintain an accurate database of trees in order to track tree loss and maintenance.

  1. To control invasive species and reduce their negative impacts.

  1. To reduce the risk of wildfire, especially in the wildland-urban interface.

  1. To achieve net zero tree loss when new development occurs.

  1. To encourage town residents and business owners to support the Town’s urban forest vision.

The UFMP is nearly complete- with a public engagement campaign planned for April 2026.

Trees in Mahone Bay

Did you know that since 2022, residents and Town staff have been collecting information about private and town-owned trees in Mahone Bay? To add to the Tree Inventory, click here! The Tree Inventory is a way for town staff to understand the health of the urban forest in order to make decisions about funds and resources. Staff and residents can both add to the inventory to build a clear picture of the town’s urban forest each year.

Over 3,000 trees have already been added to our publicly available tree map, which includes private and municipally owned trees. This database continues to evolve by adding new trees, removing dead trees, and updating tree data. Some trees have been identified and are important or rare species in Nova Scotia, while other trees have not yet been identified. Here is a graph showing the most common species of trees:

A healthy forest has a mixture of tree species, as shown above. Too many trees of a single variety can lead to vulnerability to invasive species and disease such as Dutch Elm disease, Hemlock Woolly Adelgid and the Emerald Ash Borer.


Suggest a location for a tree to be planted!

Do you have a suggestion for a tree planting on a municipal right of way, perhaps between your property and the road? Have you noticed a tree that might need to be assessed for trimming or removal? Town staff are always happy to take suggestions - check out our tree map down below or contact Lauren Clark, Climate & Energy Program Manager at climate@townofmahonebay.ca or at 902-521-4922.

To add to the Tree Inventory, click here!


Donate a tree to the Town!

If you are interested in helping us add to our urban canopy, you can get information about our Community Asset Donation Program, and how you can donate a tree.

Trees are integral to any healthy community - for plants and animals large and small, and for people of all ages. The benefits of a healthy forest include reduced impacts from flooding and erosion, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, increased natural habitat, supporting mental and physical health, providing cooling and shade, supporting food security, enhancing air quality, reducing noise and improving property values, to name a few. Because of all these benefits, the simple act of planting a tree can have significant impacts for many decades and centuries.

Get Involved:

1. Do you have a suggestion for a tree planting location? Click here to go to the town tree map! For more information about using this online tool, we have a guide that might help.

2. We want to know what you think of the town's draft Urban Forest Management Plan! Click here to fill out the survey!

The Town of Mahone Bay is developing an Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP) to improve the health of the trees in the town, and the benefits they provide, to increase native biodiversity, and maintain a balance of net zero tree loss. An UFMP acts as a roadmap for a community to protect, maintain, and grow its urban forest by planting new trees each year and improving the health of the existing trees. The plan has the following seven goals:

  1. To plant trees in town each year, prioritizing native and near-native species, to reach our canopy target.

  1. To establish a pruning program for the health of street trees while reducing conflict between vegetation and electrical distribution services.

  1. To maintain an accurate database of trees in order to track tree loss and maintenance.

  1. To control invasive species and reduce their negative impacts.

  1. To reduce the risk of wildfire, especially in the wildland-urban interface.

  1. To achieve net zero tree loss when new development occurs.

  1. To encourage town residents and business owners to support the Town’s urban forest vision.

The UFMP is nearly complete- with a public engagement campaign planned for April 2026.

Trees in Mahone Bay

Did you know that since 2022, residents and Town staff have been collecting information about private and town-owned trees in Mahone Bay? To add to the Tree Inventory, click here! The Tree Inventory is a way for town staff to understand the health of the urban forest in order to make decisions about funds and resources. Staff and residents can both add to the inventory to build a clear picture of the town’s urban forest each year.

Over 3,000 trees have already been added to our publicly available tree map, which includes private and municipally owned trees. This database continues to evolve by adding new trees, removing dead trees, and updating tree data. Some trees have been identified and are important or rare species in Nova Scotia, while other trees have not yet been identified. Here is a graph showing the most common species of trees:

A healthy forest has a mixture of tree species, as shown above. Too many trees of a single variety can lead to vulnerability to invasive species and disease such as Dutch Elm disease, Hemlock Woolly Adelgid and the Emerald Ash Borer.


Suggest a location for a tree to be planted!

Do you have a suggestion for a tree planting on a municipal right of way, perhaps between your property and the road? Have you noticed a tree that might need to be assessed for trimming or removal? Town staff are always happy to take suggestions - check out our tree map down below or contact Lauren Clark, Climate & Energy Program Manager at climate@townofmahonebay.ca or at 902-521-4922.

To add to the Tree Inventory, click here!


Donate a tree to the Town!

If you are interested in helping us add to our urban canopy, you can get information about our Community Asset Donation Program, and how you can donate a tree.

Page last updated: 21 Apr 2026, 04:42 PM