HomeMy WebLinkAboutHK - 2016-06-07 - Item 4 - Project Introduction Sustainable Urban Forest (May 2016)
Project Introduction - Document 1
Developing a Sustainable Urban Forest Management Program
All artistic drawings in this report are copyright by Emily S. Damstra
“Urban forests are systems of trees, other vegetation, and water
within any urban area. They can be understood as dynamic green infrastructure that provide cities
Urban forests are forests for people.”
Operations, Infrastructure Service Department
City of Kitchener
May 18, 2016
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Developing a sustainable urban forest management program
Project introduction
Developing a sustainable urban forest program
Introduction
Section
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9
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All artistic drawings in this report are copyright by Emily S. Damstra
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Developing a sustainable urban forest management program
Project Description
This project will initiate the development of a Sustainable Urban Forest Program with the creation of an
urban forest strategic plan for the public and private urban forest, and an asset management plan for
trees on city lands. A sustainable program sets the course of action for a socially desirable urban forest
that can also be achieved and maintained based on the true capacity of the city to manage the resource.
Project Deliverables
Work Activities & DocumentsDescription
#1 Project Introduction
stakeholders. It provides a description of the project, the
(Information only)
deliverables, time lines and introduces key concepts.
This document will provide detailed information about the city's
#2 Background Analysis
(information only)key issues, and challenges (e.g. existing maintenance levels,
climate change, the private urban forest, etc.)
#3.1 Strategy Creates a long term vision (50 to 100 years) for the public and
(Council approval)private urban forest, and sets broad, long-term goals.
# 3.2 Policy next ten years. The policy recommendations will address the;
(Council approval)1) Urban Tree Canopy on Public Lands, 2) Urban Tree Canopy
on Private Lands, 3) Street & Park Trees on City Lands, and 4)
Natural Areas on City Lands.
Guided by the strategy and policy the asset management
Asset Management Plan plan will state how the urban forest, on city lands, will be
(Department approval)
the associated costs and risks.
Project Schedule
20162017
SummerFallWinterSpringOngoing
Project introduction (#1)June
Background analysis (#2)August
Stakeholder input & consultation Information, consultation and updates
Urban Forest Strategy & Policy (#3.1, 3.2)1st Draft2nd DraftFinal
Community Workshop \\ Event October
Strategic Council Session Oct 24
Council approval May-June
Asset Management Plan Initiate framework, procedures, best practices Develop
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Kitchener’s Strategic Plan
Kitchener’s Strategic Plan (2015-2018) provide the direction to carry
out this project - develop a sustainable urban forest
managment program. In section 4.1 of the plan it states that the city
will “manage and enhance the urban forest so that it will continue to
make a long-term contribution to the livability of Kitchener”.
The urban forest on city lands, which includes trees along
residential streets, within parks and natural areas is recognized as a
corporate asset in the city’s Corporate Asset Management Program
Policy (I-506). The city’s Strategic Plan also managing the city’s
corporate assets as a as a strategic plan initiative.
Figure 1, below provides an overview of these connections to
Kitchener’s Strategic Plan and its asset management policy.
Figure 1
Urban forest linkages to Kitchener’s Strategic Plan
“Keeping large stature trees healthy and functional is one of the best
investments communities can make.”
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health), and the environmental functions (e.g. pollution mitigation, carbon sequestration) the tree performs.
Environmental, economic and social research continues to show the value of trees to the community. These
Structure
(pollution mitigation)
(size, health, leaf area)
The return
on trees is
each dollar spent on
maintenance, between
are realized each year,
"Having 10 or
depending on the city.
TD Economics - Special Report
more trees on
September 14, 2014
your block has
The value of the urban forests in
cities across Canada.
self-reported health
$10,000 salary raise"
Toronto Star, July 14, 205
(Neighborhood greenspace and
health in a large urban centre)
The "Background Analysis" document, available in August will provide more
create a livable, healthy and resilient city.
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Developing a sustainable urban forest management program
An introduction to urban forest sustainability.
In 1997, James R. Clark and others wrote the seminal paper A Model of Urban Forest
Sustainability four principles of a sustainable urban
ECOLOIGIALRESOURCE
RESOURCE(Asset)
(Trees, Soils, Wildlife)MANAGEMENT
forest, that are
1. Sustainability is a broad, general goal.
2. Urban forests primarily provide services rather than goods.
COMMUNITY
FRAMEWORK
3. Sustainable urban forests require human intervention.
4. Trees growing on private lands compose the majority of urban forests.
Based on these four principles the authors proposed a
“The naturally occurring and planted trees in cities which are managed to provide inhabitants with a continuing
level of economic, social,
three core ideas must also be accepted
1.
2.
3.
cities.
Based on these ideas they proposed a model that was founded on three components
1.
2. Community framework - a shared community vision, that also results in community action in
3. Resource (asset) management - the management philosophy and management of the resource.
development a sustainable urban forest program. Collectively, the information on this page provides a starting
point for this discussion with stakeholders.
Sustainable Urban Forest 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 forest.
3.
4. Establish an appropriate and achievable urban tree canopy goal.
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.
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An introduction to asset (resource) management.
Figure 3
This project considers the goals of achieving a sustainable urban forest compatible
of the asset, while minimizing costs
with the goals of asset management, which is the act of providing the required level
and risks is the cornerstone of asset
management
All assets have lifecycle stages (e.g. plant, mature, dead) which they move through
and the costs (e.g. planning, management, planting, protection, pruning, removal,
stumping) are referred to as “lifecycle costs”.
City assets are supported by the community because they provide some form of
sequestration, pollution mitigation) to the community. When managed properly the
large stature tree that has a diameter greater than 40 cm at maturity. Through long term planning, management,
monitoring and the implementation of best practices a sustainable urban forest can be achieved.
The costs to maintain a tree, shown by the red line,
are high at the time of planting\\establishment and
at the end of the trees life as it declines and must
be removed \\ stumped.
exceed the cost to maintain it.
All artistic drawings in this report are copyright by Emily S. Damstra
Trees that die before they reach their
expected lifespan, provide very few
the time line, between "mature" and
"senescent", which can represent 40
plus years, has been compressed
limited resources.
considerably
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urban forest is on private lands, and that the greatest opportunities to increase the city's tree canopy is also on
private lands. Developing a sustainable urban forest will require a long-term, collective effort by individual citizens,
key component of a sustainable urban forest.
The proposed community framework for a sustainable urban forest is consistent with the city's Strategic Plan -
Together, we will build an innovative, caring and vibrant Kitchener, and that the city
will actively seek to work with others. The evolving Neigbhourhood Strategy further supports this vision stating that
the city will;
Figure 5
Community Framework
1. Communicate - provide science based and timely
COMMUNICATE
protection, and maintenance.
2. Engage - consult with the community, provide opportunities
for input, the exchange of ideas and collaboration.
ENGAGE
DONATIONS
3. Stewardship - support the active care and monitoring of the
urban forest by individuals, community groups and business.
4. Partnerships - encourage and support the establishment
urban forest stewardship program for the private lands.
PARTNERSHIPSSTEWARDSHIP
5. Donations
and services in kind from individuals, community groups and
private corporations, with a particular focus on private lands.
Informing, engaging and supporting stewardship activities on the public and private urban forest is a key part of developing a
sustainable urban forest that contributes to a healthy and liveable community. Recognizing the resources of the community and
the limitations of the city, a sustainable urban forest can only occur through community partnerships and support.
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26%
street trees
60% 616
To learn more about Kitchener's tree canopy, the importance of trees on private lands,
how many trees the city prunes, removes, stumps and plants each year, and key issues
(i.e. climate change, tree protection) stayed tuned for the next report "Background
Analysis" (August 2016).
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This document provides a brief introduction to this project which will continue for the next year. In July the
forest (pg. 9) will be covered in more detail, along with identifying the issues and challenges (e.g. existing
maintenance levels, climate change, the private urban forest, etc.) moving forward. This information
will provide the basis for the discussion of developing a strategy and policy for Kitchener's urban forest
that will occur through the fall and winter. Through these steps the city will be looking for community
participation and input.
www.kitchener.ca/treestrees@kitchener.ca
(David Schmitt MES, Environmental & Urban Forest Project Manager)
All artistic drawings in this report are copyright by Emily S. Damstra
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