Good Things Come in Trees...
As a kid, did you love climbing or playing under a big old tree? So did we.
We are WATCA - Western Australian Tree Canopy Advocates
WATCA is a community-driven organisation established to address the Tree Canopy Crisis happening in Perth and other WA cities. Perth has the lowest canopy cover of any capital in Australia - and it's getting worse. We support the protection and expansion of tree canopy in urban centres across WA.
WATCA is the state umbrella for a growing network of local Tree Canopy Advocacy groups representing 26 Local Government Areas across WA and more than 25,000 community members who want the state government and councils to take urgent action.
Become a Member
WATCA is all about community! Show your support by joining forces with thousands of other leafy legends from across WA.
We have local groups across the Perth metro area, as well as groups in Bunbury, Serpentine Jarrahdale, Mandurah, Busselton, Dunsborough & Geraldton. We're getting bigger everyday - join us to show your support for trees!
Perth has the lowest tree canopy of any capital city in Australia and is the only capital without tree protections and a Tree Canopy Target.
Perth is losing 80% of trees on PRIVATE LAND.
So no matter how many saplings are planted on public land,
we can NEVER catch up without regulating the
removal of larger trees on private property.
Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Canberra & Hobart have all had protections
for large trees on private land successfully in place for decades.
And guess what? Their tree canopies are in far better shape than ours!
.
This is not about 'Houses vs Trees', we must include trees as
part of sustainable development if we want a healthy, resilient
community and a liveable future - it's really that simple.
We must stop clearing blocks as a matter of course.
Our goal should be to increase density while retaining as many trees as
possible, especially those close to boundaries that will not impact a build.
We call on the WA State Government to:
Regulate the Removal of Large Trees on private land
and
Set a 30% by 2040 Tree Canopy Target for Perth
Trees Cool Our Cities
Adequate tree canopy can lower air temperature in urban areas by up to 10°C...and that’s just one of the amazing benefits that trees bring to our community and environment.
Perth is facing a Tree Canopy Crisis - we must urgently set a
30% by 2040 Tree Canopy Target to retain and expand our tree cover
if we want liveable suburbs as heatwaves become the norm.
WATCA seeks to work collaboratively with the WA State Government, councils,
the private sector and community to develop sensible and effective statewide
regulation of the removal of large trees on public and private land.
We’re on a mission to create awareness, foster community engagement and drive
regulatory change, because once our precious trees are gone, it’s too late.
Memberships
come with Merch!
WATCA Members T-shirts
Join WATCA for 12 months and you'll receive one of these awesome t-shirts mailed directly to you - so you can wear your support!