VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The City of Vancouver could have more fruit bearing trees in its future.

The Vancouver Park Board is pushing for a strategy to help keep urban forests healthy.

“The plan on native trees is taking care of trees that are landmarked trees, so trees that have reached a certain age and level should be protected,” explains Park Board Commissioner Niki Sharma. “We really need a comprehensive plan that helps us figure out how to manage that increase, where we can put food bearing trees in there to help support local food security.”

She says if a motion gets passed this week, city staff will create a blueprint to keep track of landmark trees and look at where to plant new ones.

“But also what we do with trees once we’ve cut them down, finding sustainable uses for the wood, for local artists for example,” Sharma adds.

If the motion gets passed, we could see the blueprint in about a year.

The plan will be a part of the city’s goal to plant 150,000 trees by 2020.