SOS Trees Coalition Inc. is a non-profit organization which strives to protect and expand urban forests in the towns and cities of Saskatchewan, focusing on Saskatoon. We were founded in 1992 by people concerned about the fatal threat to the American Elm from Dutch Elm Disease (DED), which had invaded southeast Saskatchewan at that time. Through public education and lobbying the Province and the City we helped to control the spread of DED. Saskatoon has an estimated 100,000 American Elms but only a few cases of DED were recorded from 2015 to 2023. In 2024 that number jumped to 11, spread among three neighborhoods. DED is here - we are redoubling our efforts to work with residents, the City and others in a collective fight to control its spread. See page 42 for more details.
SOS Trees Coalition also works to counter other threats to the urban forest, including climate change, infill construction, invasive insects and diseases. We promote public awareness and appreciation of the many benefits that a healthy urban forest provides to everyone. Our goal is to ensure that our urban forest will be here for many generations to come. We speak for the trees, through public education, tree planting events, and lobbying our local and provincial governments. Our early efforts helped to convince Saskatoon to improve its pruning cycle for mature public trees from once in 50 years to once in seven. More recently, we successfully advocated for a new Tree Protection Bylaw and a rewriting of specifications for working around public trees. Our education initiatives include Arbour Week and tree planting events.
Trees are an important part of our community with all of their benefits contributing to a liveable city. If you are moved by their collective value and beauty, and you want to do something for the trees – JOIN US!
- SOS Trees Coalition membership is only $20 per year! • Student memberships are free.
- We are a registered charity.
- For more information, visit sostrees.ca
- E-mail us at trees@sostrees.ca
- Write to us at: SOS Trees Coalition, 1618 - 9th Ave. N., Saskatoon, SK S7K 3A1