city of vancouver urban forest strategyvancouver.ca/files/cov/urban-forest-strategy-draft.pdf ·...

City of VancouverUrban Forest Strategy

APRIL 15, 2014

OUR URBAN FOREST TODAY

WHAT CAN WE DO ?

NEXT STEPS

PROTECT

PLANT

MANAGE

Outline

Engage

OUR URBAN FOREST TODAY

4

including 140,000 street trees...Every tree in our city,

OUR URBAN FOREST TODAY

5

300,000 park trees...

OUR URBAN FOREST TODAY

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.

12

13

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...

OUR URBAN FOREST TODAY

34 metric tonnes of particulate matter

(dust, smog, soot) are removed by our urban

forest each year

absorbing carbon dioxide to mitigate climate change

16 OUR URBAN FOREST TODAY

20,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide

are absorbed by our urban forest each year

managing rainwater

17 OUR URBAN FOREST TODAY

providing wildlife habitat

OUR URBAN FOREST TODAY18

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access to nature

shade

stress reduction

fruit

OUR URBAN FOREST TODAY

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.

OUR URBAN FOREST TODAY

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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).

OUR URBAN FOREST TODAY

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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

38

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

39

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