Terrasse-Vaudreuil Adopts Universal Declaration of Tree Rights

The Municipality of Terrasse-Vaudreuil adopted the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights through Resolution No. 2026-06-111. This resolution recognizes specific rights for trees, including the rights to life, natural growth, integrity, and regeneration.

Ricardo Rey, president of La Compagnie des Papillons Bleus and author of the declaration, clarified that the document serves as an ethical framework rather than a legal mechanism. He emphasized that the declaration recognizes trees as a common good of humanity but does not grant them legal personhood or autonomous legal standing.

Rey noted that the declaration is distinct from the specific legal rights established in the municipality's resolution. To prevent the misconception that adoption creates new litigation regimes or regulatory codes, Rey stated that municipalities must coordinate with La Compagnie des Papillons Bleus to ensure the text and its legal scope are correctly understood.