Belgian municipalities launch initiatives to distribute free trees

Several Belgian municipalities are launching initiatives to increase urban greenery and combat rising temperatures.

In Pelt, the ‘Pelt Boomt’ campaign is specifically targeting neighborhoods with low canopy cover to meet the ‘3-30-300’ rule. This standard aims for residents to see three trees from their homes, have 30% canopy cover in their neighborhood, and live within 300 meters of high-quality green space. The municipality is offering free trees to residents in underserved areas and providing facade plants for apartment dwellers to maximize limited space.

Meanwhile, Brugge is offering 200 free trees to residents celebrating birthdays in August. This initiative, which has expanded from 150 trees last year, allows participants to choose between two native species: the hornbeam and the field maple. The program is part of a broader climate resilience strategy to improve air quality and provide shade as summers become warmer.