For centuries, trees have been viewed primarily as natural resources, valued for the shade they provide, the carbon they store or the timber they produce. There exists one little town in Canada that opposes this point of view. Through a significant move, the town of Grand Falls-Windsor in Newfoundland and Labrador has formally recognised trees as living organisms with rights. This has been done by the local government in an attempt to bring tree species into a developing trend around the world where there is a push for giving legal and ethical consideration not only to people and property but also to natural systems that sustain life. Those who support this point of view suggest that it helps communities reassess their attitudes towards the natural environment. At the same time, those who oppose this approach consider it to be a symbolic step. The decision has sparked wider discussions about how societies can better protect ecosystems in the face of climate change, biodiversity loss and increasing environmental pressures.
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