City of VancouverUrban Forest Strategy
APRIL 15, 2014
OUR URBAN FOREST TODAY
WHAT CAN WE DO ?
NEXT STEPS
PROTECT
PLANT
MANAGE
Outline
Engage
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including 140,000 street trees...Every tree in our city,
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300,000 park trees...
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and an unknown number of trees on private property...
6 OUR URBAN FOREST TODAY
make up what is known as Vancouver’s “urban forest”
OUR URBAN FOREST TODAY7
which we mapped for the first time using LIDAR technology.
OUR URBAN FOREST TODAY8
This allowed us to calculate “canopy cover”, the North
Canopy cover is how much ground area is covered by tree leaf canopies as seen from the air.
American standard for assessing urban forest performance.
OUR URBAN FOREST TODAY9
10 OUR URBAN FOREST TODAY
We now know canopy cover by neighbourhood.
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We also found that most of our canopy is on private property.
Canopy on Private Property (including
residential, institutional,
commercial and industrial)
62%
Canopy in Parks
27%
Canopy on Streets
11%
OUR URBAN FOREST TODAY
OUR URBAN FOREST TODAY
and 18% of our total city area is covered by tree canopy.
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Victoria Vancouver, WA
18% 18%
Vancouver, BC
18%
Compared to other cities, we seem to be doing ok...
Seattle
23%
OUR URBAN FOREST TODAY
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However, our canopy cover has been declining over
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
1995 2006 2013 2017 2035 2055
22.5% 20%
18%
tree
canop
y (hectares)
City‐wide Canopy Cover
the past two decades. Why is this of concern?
OUR URBAN FOREST TODAY
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As our canopy declines, so do the benefits our urban forest provides, such as cleaning the air...
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34 metric tonnes of particulate matter
(dust, smog, soot) are removed by our urban
forest each year
absorbing carbon dioxide to mitigate climate change
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20,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide
are absorbed by our urban forest each year
managing rainwater
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providing wildlife habitat
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access to nature
shade
stress reduction
fruit
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and healthy community
3 minutes: time it takes for blood pressure
and muscle tension to reduce significantly after
seeing trees
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and local economy and tourism.
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0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
1995 2006 2013 2017 2035 2055
22.5% 20%
18%
tree
canop
y (hectares)
City‐wide Canopy Cover
OUR URBAN FOREST TODAY
Why is our canopy cover declining?
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Over the last two decades 23,490 healthy, mature trees were removed on private property (including residential, institutional, commercial and industrial land).
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5%
1.5%
5%
1.6%
5%
2%
Just over half of these removals were due to development.The rest were removed under Section 4.5* of the
Disease, Safety and
Development
53%
Section 4.5
47%
Protection of Trees Bylaw.
*Section 4.5 allows property owners to remove one treeper year, regardless of tree health, size or species.
OUR URBAN FOREST TODAY
24 OUR URBAN FOREST TODAY
In 2013, 1,805 trees were removed under Section 4.5
That’s about five healthy, mature trees removed every day.
development
pests
litter & allergies
infrastructure conflicts
views sun
OUR URBAN FOREST TODAY
Conflicts and competing interests
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WHAT CAN WE DO ?
PLANT
MANAGE
PROTECT
PROTECT / WHAT CAN WE DO ?28
PROTECT
PROTECT / WHAT CAN WE DO ?29
Protect healthy, mature canopy
1. Amend Section 4 of the Protectionof Trees By-law
2. Retain more trees on development sites3. Create a comprehensive retention
framework
PROTECT
Stop the decline of our canopy cover GOAL
PRINCIPLE
ACTION ITEM
PROTECT / WHAT CAN WE DO ?30
5%
1.5%
5%
1.6%
5%
2%0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
1995 2006 2013 2017 2035 2055
22.5% 20%
18%
tree
canop
y (hectares) 18%
Stop the decline of our canopy cover GOAL
PROTECT / WHAT CAN WE DO ?31
What takes years to develop can be cut down in less than a day
Protect healthy, mature canopy PRINCIPLE
PROTECT / WHAT CAN WE DO ?32
1.5% 1.6%
CURRENT SECTION 4.5: property owners are able to remove one tree per year regardless of tree health, size or species.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT: trees can be removed only if theymeet the criteria in Section 4.4 of the existing By-law:
• Hazardous • Dead, diseased or dying• Within a building envelope• Close to or interfering with drainage systems, sewer
systems or utility wires• Causing damage to property including roofs and
sidewalks.
Amend Section 4 of the Protection of Trees By-lawACTION ITEM 1
PROTECT / WHAT CAN WE DO ?33
The City will workwith applicants toproactively retainas many healthy,mature trees aspossible on development sites.
Retain more trees on development sitesACTION ITEM 2
PROTECT / WHAT CAN WE DO ?34
1.5% 1.6%
Create a comprehensive framework to encourage retention of trees and discourage removals, such as a system of payments for canopy loss that cannot be replaced on a site.
Comprehensive retention frameworkACTION ITEM 3
PROTECT / WHAT CAN WE DO ?35
PLANT
PLANT / WHAT CAN WE DO ?36
Ensure a balanced approach Plant strategically across the city Plant the right tree in the right place Ensure resiliency to disease and
climate change
4. Expand Park Planting Programs5. Expand Private Property Planting Programs
PLANT
Grow our urban forest canopy GOALS
PRINCIPLE
ACTION ITEM
Plant 150,000 trees by 2020
PLANT / WHAT CAN WE DO ?37
tree
canop
y (hectares)
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
1995 2006 2013 2017 2035 2055
tree
canop
y (hectares)
20%22% 22.5%
20%18% 18%
Grow our urban forest canopy GOAL
PLANT / WHAT CAN WE DO ?
Plant 150,000 trees by 2020
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5%
1.5%
5%
1.6%
5%
2%
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
20102011
20122013
Trees Planted since 2010in Parks, Streets and through
Private Property Planting Programs
GOAL
PLANT / WHAT CAN WE DO ?
development
pests
litter & allergies
utilities and sidewalks
views sun
CANOPYCOVER
Ensure a balanced approachPRINCIPLE
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PLANT / WHAT CAN WE DO ?40
Plant the right tree in the right placePRINCIPLE
Tree species selection to prevent:
root conflicts (with underground infrastructure such as sewer lines and surfacing such as sidewalks)
canopy conflicts (with overhead utility wires and transportation sight lines).
PLANT / WHAT CAN WE DO ?41
Ensure resiliency to disease and climate change PRINCIPLE
Ensure resiliency to: disease effects of climate change
such as rising temperatures and more severe storms
PLANT / WHAT CAN WE DO ?42
Ensure resiliency to disease and climate change PRINCIPLE
Maple24%
Prunus 28%
Ash5%
Linden5%
Oak4%
Hornbeam3%
Beech 3%
Hawthorn3%
Other Species
25%
(cherry and plum)
Vancouver’s current street tree species
Ensure resiliency through: appropriate species selection species diversity
PLANT / WHAT CAN WE DO ?43
Factors in deciding WHAT to plant.
species selection
considerations
food
existingconditions
competing interests
resiliency
ornamentalbeauty
growing canopy
infrastructureconflicts
PLANT / WHAT CAN WE DO ?44
Plant strategically across the cityPRINCIPLE
PLANT / WHAT CAN WE DO ?45
Private Property (including
residential, institutional,
commercial and industrial)
50%
Parks
40%
Streets
10%
Estimated Planting Capacity
We need to find ways to plant more trees in parks and private property.
PLANT / WHAT CAN WE DO ?46
Expand Park Planting ProgramsACTION ITEM 4
Create new forest
and enhance existing forests.in parks and golf courses
PLANT / WHAT CAN WE DO ?47
Expand Private Property Planting ProgramsACTION ITEM 5
Work with Treekeepers and other community groupsto provide planting and stewardship programs,including fruit tree programs.
MANAGE / WHAT CAN WE DO ?48
MANAGE
MANAGE / WHAT CAN WE DO ?
MANAGE
Manage the whole lifecycle of the urban forest
Consider conditions for trees to thrive
6. Update our Street Tree Management Plan7. Create Street and Park Succession Plans
PRINCIPLE
ACTION ITEM
Manage our urban forest as a vital living assetGOAL
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MANAGE / WHAT CAN WE DO ?50
Manage our urban forest as a vital living assetGOAL
View our urban forest as green infrastructure that provides immense benefits.
Manage for long term tree health to ensure our urban forest continues to provide benefits.
MANAGE / WHAT CAN WE DO ?51
plant
maintain
remove
celebrateprotect
re-use
Manage the whole lifecycle of the urban forestPRINCIPLE
MANAGE / WHAT CAN WE DO ?52
Consider ideal conditions for trees to thrive PRINCIPLE
Space for roots (soil volume), soil quality, water infiltration and space for canopy
MANAGE / WHAT CAN WE DO ?53
Update our Street Tree Management PlanACTION ITEM 6
COORDINATION with Integrated Stormwater Management Plan, Utility Plans and Transportation Plan 2040.
HOLISTIC PLANTING STANDARDS including soil volume.
WOOD RE-USE for alternative fuel sources and artisans.
MANAGE / WHAT CAN WE DO ?54
Create Street and Park Succession PlansACTION ITEM 7
Succession plans to help grow canopy and ensure resiliency Updated Inventory and Tracking System
NEXT STEPS
NEXT STEPS56
Approve immediate By-law amendment to reduce significant canopy loss.
Hold a city-wide conversation on how we can all help to achieve Strategy goals.
Return to Council with specific plans: Comprehensive retention framework Updated Street Tree Management Plan Street and Park Succession Plans
Vancouver has a magnificent urban forest thatcontributes to our environment and to the healthof every resident in our city.
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The Urban Forest Strategy is a bold first step designed to protect, grow and manage this vital, shared resource for future generations.
NEXT STEPS
ACTION ITEMS:
1. Amend Section 4 of the Protection of Trees By-law
2. Retain more trees on development sites
3. Create a comprehensive retention framework
4. Expand Park Planting Programs
5. Expand Private Property Planting Programs
6. Update our Street Tree Management Plan
7. Create Street and Park Succession Plans