Mothers Out Front (MOF) Newton launches its 2025-2026 Climate Action Campaign to mobilize for a livable future with seven recommendations to enhance Newton’s Tree Preservation Ordinance.
For the past year, MOF Newton has been raising awareness of the climate benefits of mature trees and studying the impact of Newton’s Tree Preservation Ordinance.
“We have developed seven recommendations that we believe will help achieve the Ordinance’s purpose to preserve and expand Newton’s tree canopy. We aimed to support the Ordinance, to increase the number of trees protected, make its requirements more fair, consistent, and less confusing for property owners, and to promote data collection to monitor how the Ordinance is working,” says Jan Saglio, chair of the Tree Study Group.
“The more trees we preserve, the more resilient all our neighborhoods will be,” said MOF member and longtime resident Judy Boroschek. “We know that large trees absorb stormwater. When my neighbors demolished their house, they also cut down a large old linden tree and three very tall pine trees. Then, during the heavy rains last December, our basement flooded. We never had water coming in from that area before.”
MOF member Barbara Divitto said, “I have always loved the five large shade trees in my backyard. As the summers have grown hotter with climate change, I have noticed that their shade keeps our yard and our house cool and we hardly have to use our A/C.”
Mothers Out Front Newton will be advocating for the recommendations to Newton City Councilors and city residents. We will also continue to promote preserving trees as our shared green infrastructure and in the City’s updated Climate Action Plan for 2025-2030. Upcoming activities include Tree Tagging, Heat Island Safaris, and collecting stories about the impact of tree loss.
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