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HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-11-070 - Urban ForestryInternal Memo TCHEr. R Infrastructure Services Department www.krtchenerca Date: September 29, 2011 Report # INS -11 -070 To: Mayor and Council From: Pauline Houston, Deputy CAO, Infrastructure Services cc: Corporate Leadership Team Subject: Kitchener's Urban Forest - October 3, 2011 Strategic Council Session For Information & Discussion Purposes Only In preparation for the strategic session with Council on Monday, October 3rd, 2011 please find the following report attached: • Kitchener's Urban Forest — A New Paradigm Urban Forest Sustainability & Best Management Practices The goal of this session is to inform Council about Kitchener's urban forest and the important role it plays in a healthy, economically vibrant community. While there has been a growing recognition of the importance of Kitchener's urban forest, the urban forest is still not given the same budget requirements as other strategic assets. In the spring of 2011 staff presented information on a sustainable urban forest to Kitchener's Environmental Committee. Staff have also been working on a number of projects including: Emerald Ash Borer, Street & Park Inventory, Pilot Management Plans supported by LEAF. Recognizing the work being done, and its strategic connections it was felt this issue should be brought to Council. In presenting this information at a Strategic Council Session staff are looking for feedback on the information and urban forestry strategies presented. On October 3rd staff will make a PowerPoint Presentation on the key themes, including: • Economic, environmental and social benefits of the urban forest • Urban forest management and best management practices • Community support & engagement • Emerald Ash Borer • Urban Forest Budgets The presentation by staff will be followed by a discussion of the issues. For any immediate questions regarding the report please contact David Schmitt, Environmental & Urban Forest Project Manager at 741 -2600 x4891 or by email at david.schmitt(o ) kitchener.ca l I�T�r�R Image Copyright Emily S. Damsira Kitchener's Urban Forest A New Paradigm Urban Forest Sustainability & Best Management Practices Strategic Council Session October 3, 2011 Presented by Operations Infrastructure Services Department Table Of Contents Introduction 3 Managing Kitchener's Urban Forest 4 Community support for the urban forest 5 Urban Forestry Myths 6 Kitchener's Urban Forest 7 Economic, Environmental & Social Benefits Environmental Benefits 8 It's all about the big, old trees 9 Social Benefits 10 Maximize Benefits - Minimize Costs 11 An Essential Asset 12 Community Framework Community Support 13 Engagement, Stewardship & Education 14 Urban Forest - City Wide Emerald Ash Borer 15 Kitchener's Tree Canopy is 22% 18 Key Issues - City Wide 19 Street & Park Trees 20 Key Issues - Street & Park Trees 21 Kitchener's Natural Areas 22 Huron Natural Area(HNA) 23 Key Issues - Natural Areas 24 Council Feedback 25 Introduction Urban Forest Sustainability & Best Management Practices Introduction The goal of this session is to inform Council about Kitchener's urban forest and the important role it plays in a healthy, economically vibrant community. While there has been a growing recognition of the importance of Kitchener's urban forest, the urban forest is still not given the same budget require- ments as other strategic assets. In the spring of 2011 staff presented information on a sustainable urban forest to Kitchener's Envi- ronmental Committee. Staff have also been working on a number of projects including: Emerald Ash Borer, Street & Park Inventories, and Pilot Management Plans supported by LEAF. Recognizing the work being done, and its strategic connections it was felt this issue should be brought to Council. In presenting this information at a Strategic Council Session staff are looking for feedback on the urban forestry strategies being presented. Objectives The objectives of this report are to make Council aware of: the urban forest and the economic, environmental and social benefits it provides the need to manage the urban forest sustainably using Best Management Practices the community support for the urban forest the City's street trees and natural areas the City's urban forestry issues for street & park trees, and natural areas Corporate Strategic Connections The importance of Kitchener's urban forest is recognized in a number of the City's strategic initiatives, including: • Operations Business Plan - Service Priorities 2012 - 2014(Draft) identifies the development of a sustainable urban forest plan in 2013, and implementation in 2014. • City Asset Management Project - urban forest is one of 12 recognized city assets • Parks Strategic Plan - Natural Areas Theme • Strategic Plan for the Environment • Draft New Official Plan Managing Kitchener's Urban Forest Serving the community today & tomorrow Based on outdated myths about the urban forest (e.g. tree planting is easy, once planted trees take care of themselves, once acquired natural areas take care of themselves) and a program that is driv- en solely by customer complaints - the current state of the management of the public urban forest is in crisis. While customer complaints are an important part of an asset management program they should not be the sole driver where there is a desire to maximize benefits and minimize lifecycle costs. The lack of an asset management system that can identify high value trees, current workloads, safety risks, and the time it takes to resolve work orders (e.g. stumping, tree removal) is a serious problem. With the arrival of Emerald Ash Borer the existing situation will get worse. Recognizing the economic, environmental and social services that the urban forest provides and the community support for the urban forest, a strong argument can be made that this asset be managed in a sustainable manner for current and future generations. Implementing Best Management Practices based on science within an asset \ ecosystem framework is the best way to achieve a sustainable urban forest that provides maximum benefits to the community for the least cost. Engaging the com- munity in planning, stewardship and education are important parts of a sustainable urban forest. To achieve this, additional investments will need to be made into specific areas to reduce long -term costs while increasing benefits. Research shows that additional investments in the urban forest is cost ef- fective with a greater return in benefits through longer lifecycles. From a City wide perspective, existing and future funding must be compared to other city priorities. Decisions made from the old paradigm where trees only provide aesthetic beauty and take care of themselves will always place requests for the urban forest below other priorities. Without ongoing edu- cation many people will continue to view the urban forest as an area that does not require funding. In managing the urban forest the City has three choices: 1) continue with the status quo, in a crisis management state, 2) reduce the asset size by stopping all new tree planting and the acquisition of natural areas until existing budgets can manage the resource, 3) become a leader in urban forest sus - tainabiility where the benefits of the urban forest are maximized in a cost effective manner through the implementation of Best Management Practices and an asset \ecosystem management framework. Non Essential Service Existing Situation Essential Service Limited to aesthetic beauty Urban forest is an expense not Economic, environmental & a benefit social benefits recognized Investments made only in good times Outdated myths drive program Asset & ecosystem management Stop tree planting Maintenance driven by Maximize benefits for least cost, Stop acquiring natural areas customer complaints Best Management Practices Poor community support Community not engaged Community engaged JL Long -term planning Community Support For The Urban Forest Investing in the urban forest for today & tomorrow The value and importance the community puts on services is a key consideration at the time that budgets are considered. Previous public studies, as indicated by the City's Strategic Initiatives, iden- tify a healthy community, economic prosperity, the environment and parks as being important. All of these issues can be directly linked to the urban forest. As the community becomes more concerned about the environment and a healthy City, the concern about the urban forest also increases. Increased media attention on the urban forest, expectations by residents that trees will be protected during road reconstruction, and public participation in Kitch- ener's Natural Areas Program are evidence of strong community support. This support also extends to supporting financial investments into the urban forest shown by the survey results below. As part of the pilot street tree management plan with the Westmount Neighbourhood Association (WNA) the community was asked a series of questions. Similar questions were also asked during a presentation to the Auditorium Neighbourhood Association. The results of two questions that focused on investments into the urban forest are provided below. Recognizing the economic, environmental and social benefits of the urban forest, do you support the City investing in Kitchener's urban forest? Strongly Agree Agree Not Sure Disagree Strongly Disagree ANA 100% WNA 75% 24% 1% The themes and practices recommended in this plan are not currently funded in the City's existing capital and operational budgets. If Kitchener's urban forest requires additional investments to maximize commu- nity benefits in a cost effective manner, would you support a tax increase to achieve this? Strongly Agree Agree Not Sure Disagree Strongly Disagree ANA 57% 37% 3% WNA 32% 38% 18% 3% 10% (ANA based on 30 returned surveys, WNA based on 72 surveys returned) "Residents of the Westmount Neighbourhood Association thank the City of Kitchener for the leadership of their Urban Forest Team and for newly planted boulevard trees. May they live a hundred years!" Westmount Pilot Stewardship Watering Program - Dan Garret Chair WNA Green Committee Comments Urban Forestry Myths A new way of seeing the urban forest There are many myths and outdated ideas about trees and the urban forest. The first myth is that trees only provide aesthetic beauty. Pages 8 -10 of this report discuss the economic, environmen- tal and social benefits of trees. Once the true value of the urban forest is accepted, the next step is understanding that the urban forest requires active management. Three prevailing myths, which imply active management is not required, are presented below. Myth #1 Soil Assessment, Planting 9 Stev —A-t,:- Tree planting is easy Tree planting is the first physical investment in a community's future forest. Practices and decisions made at this time have long term consequences and directly impact future benefits and costs of the urban forest. Historically, the tree's roots and surrounding soil have been ignored, yet more than 75% of all tree problems are traced back to below ground factors. Pre - planning, soil assess ments\res- toration, proper tree planting techniques and aftercare are critical`' , r? elements for communities that want to develop a sustainable urban forest. Image Copyright Emily S. Damstra Myth #2 Once planted trees take care of themselves Because trees are natural it is often assumed that they require little maintenance after planting. Tree planting is only one of many steps (e.g. planning, soil assessment, establishment, structural pruning, tree protection) that are required to develop a sustainable urban for- est that maximizes community benefits over the life cycle of the tree's life. Research shows that these additional investments into the urban forest are cost effective over the tree's lifecycle. Myth #3 Once protected natural areas take care of themselves Based on outdated ecological ideas most people believe that natural areas within a City will take care of themselves once protected from development. In numerous ways (e.g. climate change, fragmentation, encroachments, development impacts, recreation) humans affect the structure and function of these areas. To maximize the benefits from these areas and to conserve their natural heritage features active management and stewardship is required. Kitchener's Urban Forest A forest within the city Q `t- Downtown Trees e� {_�?, PlAlllll2iF ^J Image Copyright Emily S. Damstra The Urban Forest The urban forest includes all of the planted and naturally occurring trees on public and private lands. Viewed from above, individual trees create a forest canopy that extends across our city. As a living organism, trees are a key part of the larger urban ecosystem, intricately connected to the sur- rounding living and non - living parts of the urban ecosystem. The public urban forest includes the City's street trees, active parkland, natural areas, and other City & government agency forested lands. The private urban forest includes all trees on residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural lands. Trees in the downtown, shown in the figure to the left, are known to improve the areas economic prosperity. Old Residential & Park Trees "u n �y ., itural Areas J Image Copyright Trees in the old residential areas and parks are an important part of the urban forest. On some streets you can find trees that are over 100 years of age. The large lot size and relatively undis- turbed soils are good conditions for growing large, old trees. In some areas (e.g. Westmount, Auditorium) the street trees are reaching the end of their Iifecycle. People that live in these areas put a high value on their mature treed canopies. Newer residential areas being more com- pact in size limit the physical space and opportunities for trees, especially along residential streets. To grow trees in these areas greater consideration must be given to trees during the design process and the altered soil must be restored. Most of Kitch- ener's largest and most significant natural areas are found in these areas. In addition to conserving Kitchener's Natural Heritage they are places where the community can experience nature in the City Environmental Benefits A healthy community The environmental benefits of urban trees are significant and can be quantified using a scientific model (iTree) developed by the United States Forest Service. Using this model municipalities can de- termine the replacement value and the annual environmental services that the urban forest provides. The table below shows the results for London, Oakville and Toronto which are significant. Staff plan to carry out an iTree Eco study for Kitchener in 2012. iTree Eco - Replacement Value & Annual Environmental Benefits London Oakville Toronto Replacement Value 1.5 billion 878 million 7 billion Annual Environmental Benefits 6.6 million 2.1 million 60 million iTree Eco (calculated values are for the public and private urban forest) TREES IMPROVE AIR QUALITY BY • absorbing gaseous pollutants (e.g. sulfur & carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, ozone, smog) • intercepting particulate matter (e.g. dust, pollen) linked to disease (e.g. asthma, cancer) • reducing emissions from power generation required for heating and cooling • reducing local air temperatures through transpiration and shading • releasing oxygen through photosynthesis TREES MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH CARBON SEQUESTRATION & STORAGE carbon sequestration increases with large, healthy trees TREES CONSERVE ENERGY BY shading buildings, providing evaporative cooling, and blocking winter winds TREES REDUCE STORMWATER RUNOFF & EROSION by intercepting precipitation (e.g. 7% drop in runoff for a community with 22% tree canopy) "A large tree with a diameter of 75cm can intercept up to ten times more air pollution than a small tree with a diameter of 15cm" (Every Tree Counts, A Portrait of Toronto's Urban Forest, City of Toronto) It's All About The Big, Old Trees Urban forest benefits Today's Urban Forest Benefits The benefits a community gains from its urban for- est today comes from the biggest and oldest trees. In contrast to other assets the value and benefits of trees increases with age. The image to the right shows the tree benefits increase with the size of the tree and total leaf area, Maximizing today's benefits requires a focus on the communities large trees. Tomorrow's Urban Forest Benefits Tree planting is a long -term investment that pro- vides economic, environmental & social benefits to the community in the future (e.g. 40, 60, 80, 100 years). "A large tree in the Northeast will provide $5,870 in environmental and other benefits over its lifetime - a 440% return on the investment" Trees Pay Us Back - In the Northeast Region Forest Service, USDA "Keeping large stature trees healthy and functional is one of the best investments communities can make." (Dr. McPherson, Centre for Urban Forest Research, ML Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, USDA) Social Benefits The hidden value With close to 40 years of social research there is very strong evi- dence that urban trees play a key role in human function, health and well- being. Once quantified social benefits will likely exceed the value of environmental benefits. Social benefits include: Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Dis- ADHD order (ADHD) are reduced after children have been in contact with treed areas. Cognitive, social and moral development im- Children prove where nearby nature provides opportuni- ties for play and experimental learning. Community Treed parks have higher community use, in- Building creasing social interaction and creating stronger communities. Crime Reduction Trees lower crime rates and provide a greater sense of safety. People with views of trees recover faster from Health surgery, require less medication and have less complications. Local Economics Large trees add 3 -15% to home values, and trees increase retail sales. Poverty Access to nature restores attention & everyday pressures of living in poverty. Safe Streets Trees reduce road stress and improve safety (e.g slow traffic, accidents). Stress & Mental Trees reduce mental fatigue, and reduce the ef- Illness fects of mental illness. Work & Learning Places near nature reduce mental fatique and improve the ability to focus. ADD Kids: "Go Out ur�d Plat. !" AM IPIWe10 g. tipe . 7ene �Yre Irltl�a��r� I'.o eitl I,n' {'a1 [}iarcle�r ir.ti (}�A t�li�21Yti Green Greee #s, Not HERB rinds kwbw *aYYw1wL 9rnw.ornd mWNW of vfwni Shade tuduced with Nature Nice To See You Pow Trees Build a INrghborhood (Images are taken from University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign - Landscape & Human Health Laboratory for illustrative purposes only) Maximize Benefits - Minimize Costs Through lifecycle management Trees and the larger urban forest are a long -term investment. Decisions and actions taken today have long -term implications. Using the principles of asset & ecosystem management - Best Management Practices (BMP) can be developed to focus work priorities and practices. The figure below identifies BMP that the City should implement to maximize community benefits for the least cost. Increased investments in the urban forest (e.g. stewardship watering programs, struc- tural pruning, tree protection) are cost effective and provide a higher return on the investment. Image Copyright Emily S. Damstra Key Findings Our Forests Your Trees In Support of London's Green Infrastructure iTree Eco Study (2009) Feature Measure Value Number of trees 4,400,000 Number of trees owned by the Town 820,000 (43 %) Average urban forest canopy cover 24.7% Replacement value of the urban forest 878 million Carbon storage 360,000 tonnes $10.3 million Carbon removal (sequestration) 12,500 tonnes per year $335,000 per year Amount of air pollution removed 370 tonnes per year $4.5 million per year Energy savings to residential homes $1.7 million per year 172 tonnes (1.2 million) Energy Savings $840,000 Avoided carbon emissions 3,200 tonnes per year $92,500 per year Replacement value 1.5 billion Note calculated values do not include social benefits. d'Y" An Essential Asset Kitchener's urban forest Recognizing the economic, environmental and social benefits the urban forest provides plays a key role in creating and maintaining a healthy community. Identified as one of the City's twelve corporate assets, a number of steps supported by Council have already moved the City towards a sustainable urban forest, including: Street & Park Tree Inventory, Natural Areas Stewardship, Kitchener's Natural Areas Program, Tree Services Review, Urban For- est Technologist & Natural Area Coordinator {FTP }, Pilot Street & Natural Area Management Plans {LEAF }). For the City to have a sustainable urban forest staff have developed 8 principles. Urban Forest Sustainability Principles 1. Recognize the urban forest as an important community asset contributing to a healthy city. 2. Engage the community in the conservation, management and stewardship of the urban for- est. 3. Maximize the economic, environmental and social benefits in a sustainable manner for a healthy city. 4. Optimize the urban tree canopy. 5. Manage the public urban forest infrastructure within an integrated asset and ecological framework. 6. Use emerging science, technology and practices to create a sustainable urban forest. 7. Protect, manage and renew the public tree resource and soil habitat. 8. Conserve and restore public natural areas while providing community access. ------------------------------------------ - - - - -® Community Framework ----------------------------------------------- Urban Forest Resource ----------------------------------------------- Resource Management The City's Plan for a Healthy Community is built on the values of the community. Linked directly to these values the urban forestry principles guide the City towards a sustainable urban forest. The three key components of a sustainable urban forest are; 1) Urban Forest Resources, 2) Community Framework, 3) Resource Management. Plan for a Healthy Community Urban Forestry Principles ------------------------------------------ - - - - -® Community Framework ----------------------------------------------- Urban Forest Resource ----------------------------------------------- Resource Management The City's Plan for a Healthy Community is built on the values of the community. Linked directly to these values the urban forestry principles guide the City towards a sustainable urban forest. The three key components of a sustainable urban forest are; 1) Urban Forest Resources, 2) Community Framework, 3) Resource Management. Community Support Connecting back to the community Community support for the urban forest has existed since the early years of the City. Examples in- clude the conservation of Homer Watson Park (Cressman Woods) by community leaders when it was to be logged, and early tree plantings along City streets. Community concern over the impact that road reconstruction would have on City and private trees led to the development of a progressive program to protect trees during these projects. This includes the partial funding of the City's Urban Forest Technologist position through Engineering's Capital Projects and significant changes in how work around trees occurs. More recently, through public demand, Operations initiated two pilot management plans funded through LEAF with neighbourhood groups (Westmount Neighbourhood Association and Friends of Laurentian Wetland). Other community groups have expressed an interest in seeing management plans developed for their nieghbourhoods (Auditorium Neighbourhood Association, Friends of Lake- side Park). Surveys of the Westmount and Auditorium Neighbourhood Associations show a very high level (> 90 %) of interest and support for the urban forest. �1 In recent years there has been considerable attention given to Kitchener's urban forest in the local media. In the adjacent image, a resident of Kitchener identifies her concerns about the impact EAB will have on their street trees and neighbourhood. Engagement, Stewardship & Education Key parts of a sustainable urban forest Image Copyright Emily S. Damstra Community Stewardship Urban forest stewardship ranges from the care of street trees (e.g. watering, mulching) to natural areas (e.g. tree planting, invasive species, citizen scientist). By volunteering, residents gain satisfac- tion, while at the same time actively participating in the long -term management of the resource. Addi- tionally, in many situations(e.q. watering) commu- nity volunteers can carry out actions in a more cost effective manner than the city can. Image Copyright Emily S. Damstra Community Engagement Community engagement is the cornerstone of a sustainable urban forest. Successful plans are those that include public participation throughout the process, and where residents feel their concerns and opinions are being considered. Unless the community buys into the plan the plan will not succeed. Recognizing that significant parts of the urban forest are on private lands, and that much of the public urban forest (e.g. street trees, natural areas adjacent to rear lots) are directly adjacent to private lands, commu- nity support and trust must be built for the community to develop a sustainable urban forest. Image Copyright Emily S. Damstra Community Education Educating the community about the urban forest in- cludes a broad spectrum of topics ranging from how to care for a newly planted tree to the wildlife that lives in their local natural areas. In the image to the left residents participate in a nature walk. Once out- dated myths are dispelled residents can take posi- tive action that supports a sustainable urban forest. A Significant Threat To The Urban Forest Emerald ash borer Emerald Ash Borer(EAB), a quarantined tree pest, was confirmed to be present in south Kitchener in 2010. With the exception of Mountain ash, this tree pest kills all ash trees. Based on current knowledge, it is expected that EAB will be present throughout the City within 5 years and all ash trees will be dead or dying within 10 years. Without consideration to the lost benefits and impact on the City's existing tree canopy, the financial cost to remove and replant will be in the millions of dollars for City lands. Ash Density Map of Kitchener's Street Trees The presence of ash trees along City streets varies. This map (as indicated by the dark blue areas) shows the residential streets that will be most affected by EAB. F� 0 , In 2011 EAB was confirmed to be present along Homer Watson Boulevard and Hwy 401. Since then it has been found in two other locations in south Kitchener. Local EAB Impacts A significant impact for some residential areas Taken in the fall of this year, the image to the right shows a section of Strathcona Crescent. This street has mature ash trees lining both sides of the street. Beyond the aesthetic beauty these trees provide important economic, environmental and social benefits. All of these ash trees will be killed by EAB. The image to the right has been digitally manipulated to show what Strathcona Crescent will look like once EAB kills all of the street trees. For some residential streets the impact will be very signifi- cant. The density map on the previous page shows areas of the City where there will be a significant impact. A Significant Financial Impact Emerald ash borer Financial Costs The chart below provides an overview of the current knowledge and financial impact EAB will have. While a number of data gaps currently exist, the experience of other municipalities suggest costs could reach 10 million dollars(Burlington) or more. Projected Timeline Based on the experience of other municipalities affected by EAB the chart below provides a projected timeline for EAB in Kitchener. # of Ash Trees Cost to Remove & Replant Street Trees 4,522 trees 4.5 million dollars Active Parkland (not complete) 1,231 trees TBD Fall 2011 Natural Areas No Information Currently Available Staff propose to address this gap through the completion of an iTree Eco Study and additional inventory work in 2012. City Cemetaries \ Golf Course Private Lands Projected Timeline Based on the experience of other municipalities affected by EAB the chart below provides a projected timeline for EAB in Kitchener. Report to Council Staff will be returning later this year with recommendations and budget considerations. The plan will include ongoing monitoring, public education, community meetings for areas currently affected, strate- gies to conserve high value trees and manage the financial burden of EAB through chemical control & proactive tree removals, wood waste strategies and a replanting plan for affected neighbourhoods. Projected Timeline for Emerald Ash Borer in Kitchener 2010 Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) confirmed present in south Kitchener. 2011 Branch sampling \ traps suggests EAB is limited to one area in south Kitchener. 2012-2013 Tree mortality increases, new infestations found across the City. 2015-2016 Large scale ash mortality evident across the City. 2017-2019 Ash mortality peaks — all areas of the City impacted. 2020-2021 All ash trees dead or dying. Report to Council Staff will be returning later this year with recommendations and budget considerations. The plan will include ongoing monitoring, public education, community meetings for areas currently affected, strate- gies to conserve high value trees and manage the financial burden of EAB through chemical control & proactive tree removals, wood waste strategies and a replanting plan for affected neighbourhoods. Kitchener's Tree Canopy is 22% Tree canopy and a healthy community Tree canopy is the layer of leaves, branches and stems of trees that cover the ground when viewed from above. It is one method that is used to measure and increase the benefits of the urban forest. American Forests recommends communities work towards achieving 40% tree canopy. Some munici- palities (e.g. Oakville 40 %, Toronto 35 %) have recently set canopy goals. % Tree Canopy by Ward (2007) Setting canopy goals needs to be done in conjunction with consideration to tree mor- tality, tree size, leaf surface area, soil habitat and BMP. It is recommended that the City not set a canopy goal until it has completed an iTree - Eco study. Emerald Ash Borer and the loss of ash trees will reduce Kitch- ener's existing tree canopy WARD 1 (24 %) W! RD 10 (21 %) WARD 9 (20 %) WARD 8 (26 %) WARD 7 (15 %) "environmental benefits of the urban forest are significant, yet many environmental and social benefits still remain to be quantified" Assessing Urban Forest Effects & Values, Chicago's Urban Forest USDA, Northern Research Station WARD 6 (16 %) WARD 5 (14 %) N. WARD 2 (28 %) WARD 3 (26 %) WARD 4 (32 %) How Kitchener compares to other southern Ontario municipalities Key Issues - City Wide Urban forest sustainability ASSET MANAGEMENT & CITYWORKS Asset management ensures that benefits are maximized while minimizing lifecycle costs. The inventory of street trees has been completed and the park inventory is underway. A natu- ral area database is also being developed. Another important step is integrating this information with Cityworks. URBAN FOREST PLANNING Planning for Kitchener's future urban forest is required to en- sure that goals being set are achieved. Setting canopy goals, monitoring mortality and tree planting are key steps. BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES Best Management Practices (BMP) are the actions taken to achieve a sustainable urban forest. BMP will require changes to work practices (e.g. Operations, other City Departments, Community) and require investments (e.g. structural pruning) to maximize benefits while reducing long -term costs. EMERALD ASH BORER (EAB) The impact EAB will have is identified on pages 15 -17. STEWARDSHIP He EDUCATION Engaging the community in stewardship is a key part of a sustainable urban forest. The high level of public participation in Kitchener's Natural Areas Program (hikes & stewardship), and the success of Westmount's pilot watering program show there is strong support for these programs. PRIVATE LANDS Trees on private lands are a key part of the urban forest, and in many areas it is the most significant piece. By being a leader in urban forest sustainability the City can also encour- age good stewardship of the private urban forest. CAPITAL & OPERATING FUNDING Strategic assets require adequate and consistent funding. Through Operations Service Priorities and the Capital \Operat - ing Budget process new funding for the urban forest will be requested to support a sustainable urban forest. Aerial image of Kitchener's Urban Forest Westmount's Watering Tree Stewards Emerald Ash Borer Kitchener's Urban Forest from City Hall Street & Park Trees Much more than aesthetic beauty The planting of trees along Kitchener's streets has been a tradition since the late 1800's. Today more than 45,000 trees line residential streets. Like other parts of the urban forest, street trees provide much more than aesthetic beauty. Street & Park Inventory Inventories provide a big picture view of the urban forest. A look at the diameter classes of the street trees shows 74% of the trees are less than 30cm in diameter. As these trees grow the benefits the community gains from the street trees increase. Species diversity data shows that four genus (Maple, Basswood, Ash, Ivory Silk) account for 75% of the street trees. With the arrival of Emerald Ash Borer, 10% of the population will be lost in the next ten years. Increasing diversity is a key goal of a sustainable urban forest. The inventory of trees in active parks (e.g. Victoria Park) is underway and should be completed this fall. Current numbers show there are more than 10,000 trees, and 15% (1,484) of those trees are ash. Once the inventory is complete a full report of the City's street and park trees will be pre- pared. Street Tree Data Only Pilot Street Tree Management Plan - Westmount Neighhourhood Assoc. With funding through LEAF, Operations is developing a pilot street tree management plan with the Westmount Neighbourhood Association. This project came about through the neighbourhood's concern about their declining street trees and the City's recognition of the need for a sustainable management plan. Currently staff are working with the community to address their concerns while also setting in place a long term plan. Several key strategies including: master tree planting plan, stewardship and educa- tion, tree and soil habitat conservation, structural pruning, Norway maple management and removal plan, and an implementation plan will be addressed in the plan. This pilot project will also provide the framework for future plans. The Auditorium Neighbourhood Association has already expressed an interest in seeing a similar plan developed for their area. Key Issues - Street & Park Trees Urban forest sustainability STREET & PARK MANAGEMENT PLANS Operations is responsible for the long -term management of this resource. Building on the learned experiences and success of the Pilot Westmount NA Street Tree Management Plan a strong cost \benefit argument can be made to implement similar plans across the City. LARGE STATURE TREES (LST) & SOIL HABITAT To maximize the benefits of the urban forest there needs to be a greater focus placed on the planting and protection of LST In addition to planting LST the required soil volume & quality for LST must be provided and protected during the trees Iifecycle. MATURING TREED NEIGHBHOURHOODS In several parts of the City (e.g. Westmount & Auditorium NA) mature street trees are reaching the end of their life cycle. The impact when these trees are lost will be significant. Using the model developed for the Westmount pilot project, areas of the City that are experiencing this problem should be priority areas for future street tree management plans. TREE CONSERVATION & PROTECTION Protecting trees on City streets and in parks is a key element of a sustainable urban forest. Building on the success of the tree protection program developed for the City's road reconstruc- tion projects staff plan to expand the program to protect all City trees(e.g. parks, streets, other city lands) across the City. STRUCTURAL & LIFECYCLE PRUNING Structural pruning is one of the most cost effective actions that can be taken to reduce long -term maintenance costs while increasing the benefits of trees. A series of Iifecycle pruning workshops are currently being developed for field staff. Staff also propose to introduce a new structural pruning program. TREE PLANTING IN NEW SUBDIVISIONS Poor quality soils and a lack of space makes the planting of trees in subdivisions challenging. Work is underway to develop new tree planting standards for subdivisions. Options being considered include reducing the number of trees planted and placing a focus on soil quality and volume. La Schneider & David St 1892 (H.Russel) Schneider & David St 1954 (H.Russel) Schneider & David St 2009 Kitchener's Natural Areas Nature in the city Valued for their natural heritage and by the community, natural areas are one of the six strategic themes in the Parks Strategic Plan. Natural areas are the most dominant piece of the City's park sys- tem accounting for more than 60% (975 hec) of the park land base. Natural areas provide significant benefits to the community. The primary goals are to conserve the City's natural heritage, while provid- ing places where people can experience nature in the city. Kitchener's Natural Areas Program With the hiring of a full time Natural Area Coordinator there has been significant growth in Kitchener's Natural Areas Program. Community interest in the programing continues to grow. Education and stewardship are key elements of a sustainable urban forest program. As this program grows the community becomes more aware of the natural environment and what they can do to help conserve these areas for future generations. Pilot Natural Area Management Plan Volunteer Meadow Restoration - HNA Friends of Laurentian Wetland With funding through LEAF, Operations is developing a pilot natural area management plan for the Laurentian Wetland. The project evolved from a teacher at WT Townsend School who had an inter- est and concern about the local wetland. Kitchener's Natural Areas Program became involved with an event hosted by the school and local neighbourhood. Since that time the interest has expanded to include the Williamsburg Community Centre, John Sweeney School, Kitchener Waterloo Field Naturalists and the community at large. In developing a natural area management plan a number of issues must be addressed including: the dual purpose of the wetland in terms of natural heritage conservation and storm water management, conservation (e.g. turtles) and management of wildlife (e.g. Canada Geese), appropriate public access, invasive species, habitat expansion and encroachments. Once completed this pilot project will provide the framework for other plans. Other community groups have already expressed an inter- est in seeing a project like this in their neighbhourhood(e.g. Residents of Lakeside Park). Huron Natural Area(HNA) Kitchener's premier natural area First envisioned in the early 1980's when most of the land was zoned for development, today HNA is Kitchener's larg- est natural area. It is a partnership with the Waterloo Re- gional District School Board (WRDSB) and Waterloo Catho- lic District School Board ( WCDSB). All three partners have made investments into HNA through land purchases. The original vision for HNA was to create a place where people could learn about urban nature and practice stew- ardship. The vision also called for the building of an envi- ronmental education centre for the community. Today the City is responsible for the management of HNA. In recent years there have been investments into HNA by the City, Province and business (TD Friends of the Environ- ment). This money has been used to construct a new front entrance, washrooms, event space and trails. The WRDSB has a school portable on site that is used for environmen- tal education. Kitchener's Natural Areas Program holds its yearly Earth Day Celebration and uses the park as its primary place for educational and stewardship activities. The recent discovery of the Neutral Nation village, which includes at least ten long houses, is one of the most sig- nificant archeological sites in the Region. A boardwalk and educational signs allow the community to visit and learn about this special place. To complete the vision of HNA more investments and work are required. HNA Neutral Nation Site Tree Planting TD Canada Trust Donation ($175,000) HNA Earth Day Celebration KNAP Bird Boxes Key Issues - Natural Areas Urban forest sustainability 5 .f Winter Nature Walk Laurentian Wetland Topper Woods Invasive Species Pull - Volunteers Showy Orchids (ROW Rare Species) NATURAL AREA MANAGEMENT PLANS Operations is responsible for the long term management of Kitchener's natural areas. Management plans for all natural areas will be developed over time using an asset & ecosystem manage- ment framework. CONSERVATION \ ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION Conserving the natural heritage (e.g. wetlands, rare species) for today and future generations will be a key focus of the manage- ment plans. Where required and appropriate ecological restora- tion will be used to conserve Kitchener's natural heritage. PUBLIC USE & TRAILS Trails and public use are important components of the City's natural areas. Unless managed and controlled impacts can be significant. Natural area management plans will balance the needs for conservation with public use. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT With the increased number of natural areas in the City there are increased opportunities to view and learn about urban wildlife. Wildlife can have positive or negative impacts on an area(e.g changes in vegetation structure). To achieve the desired goals in some cases the management of wildlife will be required. INVASIVE SPECIES Invasive species are a threat to the health of natural areas. To manage this issue three them es(education, stewardship, control) will be included in the plans. The type of action taken will vary by species (e.g. use of volunteers, chemical control). NATURAL AREA EDUCATION & STEWARDSHIP In 2011 Kitchener's Natural Areas Program(KNAP) offered 28 educational and stewardship events that were attended by 1,314 people. Connecting people with nature has important social ben- efits and helps conserve Kitchener's natural heritage. ENCROACHMENTS Encroachments into Kitchener's natural areas are a serious prob- lem that affects their long -term health. A new strategy of educa- tion and enforcement is required to address this issue. Council Feedback Points of discussion In the spring of 2011 staff presented information on a sustainable urban forest for Kitchener to the Environmental Committee. Recognizing the work being done, and its strategic connections it was felt this issue should be brought to Council. In presenting this information at a Strategic Council Session staff are looking for feedback on the urban forestry strategies presented, six key themes are identified below: COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND ENGAGEMENT Input and participation from the community shows the urban forest is a high priority. Recognizing the economic, environmental and social benefits of the urban forest direct linkages can be made to the City of Kitchener's Plan for a Healthy Community and Strategic Policies (e.g. Strategic Plan for the Environment, Parks Strategic Plan, Corporate Asset Management Project). URBAN FOREST AN ESSENTIAL ASSET The scientific research provides a strong argument to recognize the urban forest as an essential service. Once recognized the next step is to actively manage the resource in an asset \ ecosys- tem framework that maximizes community benefits for the least cost. OPERATIONS SERVICE PRIORITIES Recognizing the benefits of the urban forest and community support staff have identified the de- velopment of a sustainable urban forest plan as part of Operations Infrastructure Services Draft Business Plan - Service Priorities (2012- 2014). BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES The development of Best Management Practices(BMP) based on scientific research is a key part of a sustainable urban forest. Implementing BMP's will require a change in work practices for Operations, other City Departments and the Community. It will also require focused investments (e.g. structural pruning) to maximize community benefits while reducing long term costs. EMERALD ASH BORER The financial impact of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) will be significant. Current information suggests the full impact will not be felt for a few years. As tree mortality increases Operations will not be able to address the increased workload while maintaining other service levels. To address this issue new Capital (e.g. education, monitoring, removals, replanting) is identified in the 2012 Ten Year Capital Budget Process. At this time the full cost of EAB is still not fully quantified. URBAN FOREST BUDGETS Based on outdated beliefs and the inability to quantify the benefits in the past, Kitchener's bud- gets for urban forestry have been underfunded when compared to other strategic assets. As a step towards developing a sustainable urban forest, staff have identified priority areas(e.g. tree protection, management plans & implementation, structural pruning, large tree conservation, natural area restoration) to be considered in the 2012 Ten Year Capital Budget Process.