London, Ontario, is grappling with tree shortages as it strives to maintain its identity as the Forest City. The city needs to plant at least 6,000 trees annually to achieve its goal of a 34% tree canopy by 2065, with current costs estimated at $3.2 million per year. Coun. Skylar Franke highlighted that demand from municipalities across Ontario is making it difficult to source native species. To address this, a new staff report suggests exploring the establishment of a municipal tree nursery, which could help reduce costs for taxpayers. The proposal includes hiring a consultant to conduct a feasibility study, which will also evaluate existing municipal nurseries in other cities. If approved, the study is expected to yield results by April 2027. Franke noted that while a municipal nursery could eventually meet local demand, it would take 5 to 7 years for the trees to mature enough for planting.