The ‘urban forest’ includes not only trees in public spaces, parks and the trees planted along boulevards, but also protected forests, and trees growing on private property.
Increasing awareness of the value of urban trees – in boosting mental health through the provision of access to “quality green space”, improving air quality, and fighting climate change – has led to new strategies for the management and preservation of urban forests.
As a report to Innisfil Council on Wednesday night noted, “A strategic plan is needed to effectively monitor, protect and enhance our urban forest assets and ensure those benefits are enjoyed in the long term.”
The Town’s Official Plan called for an Urban Forestry Management Plan. That UFMP is now underway – the first time that efforts will be harmonized across department boundaries, to preserve trees in settlement areas.
The UFMP will collect baseline data on the health of Innisfil’s urban forests, set achievable goals and targets, and determine actions – including the development of a new Bylaw to “protect, maintain and enhance the urban forest within settlement areas, including trees on both public and private land.”
The effort involves two open houses, and ongoing public engagement on the Get Involved Innisfil ‘Taking care of our Trees’ webpage. Virtual guided tree walks are also planned.
A preliminary public survey received 206 responses. It found that over 89 percent of respondents reported a benefit from having trees in their neighbourhoods, from the provision of natural habitat to cooling effects, and the improvement of property aesthetics.
A total of 56.3 percent reported that the number of trees in their neighbourhood has declined, and residents called for programs that include developing guidelines for tree protection, more consistent replacement of trees, online mapping, and more educational events.
The survey also asked residents about their attitude toward a tree removal permit system. Only 31.6 percent supported a new permit system, although 44.2 percent suggested they could support permits if some of their concerns were met.
“A tree removal permit system is not a predetermined conclusion of the UFMP development process,” stated the report, although one of the goals identified was “minimizing program cost to the Town.”
The cost of developing the plan is included in the 2021 budget. In fact, the report noted, the current lack of a framework and bylaw actually contributes to municipal costs, forcing staff to spend time dealing with the existing tangle of regulations, while being unable to address the ongoing degradation of the urban tree canopy.
Although the UFMP represents a cross-departmental approach, there is also a separate Hazard Tree Assessment and Remediation project budgeted for 2022. The report suggested that there could be “co-development” of some aspects, to co-ordinate overlapping elements of the two studies.
Potential long-term costs were also identified, related to the hiring of an arborist, and new costs for removal and replacement of trees in the urban forest.
The report concluded, “A general bylaw is needed to regulate the cutting and injuring of trees within Innisfil’s settlements… Urban forests enhance our quality of life, touching upon our environmental, social and economic experiences.”
Council received the report, for information purposes.
For more information, click here.