Story perspectives

Terrasse-Vaudreuil Grants Legal Personhood to Individual Trees

6/22/2026

Summary

Story summary

Terrasse-Vaudreuil became the first Quebec municipality to grant legal rights to individual trees.
Mayor Michel Bourdeau and the council adopted a June 9 resolution recognizing trees’ rights to life, growth, integrity and regeneration, inspired by filmmaker André Desrochers.
The town will review bylaws and supply residents with trees.
The International Observatory of Nature Rights said the decision follows a trend of granting personhood to rivers in New Zealand, Colombia and Quebec.

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Story summary

Terrasse-Vaudreuil became the first Quebec municipality to grant legal rights to individual trees.
Mayor Michel Bourdeau and the council adopted a June 9 resolution recognizing trees’ rights to life, growth, integrity and regeneration, inspired by filmmaker André Desrochers.
The town will review bylaws and supply residents with trees.
The International Observatory of Nature Rights said the decision follows a trend of granting personhood to rivers in New Zealand, Colombia and Quebec.