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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEnv - 2018-05-17 - Item 2 - Kitchener's Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy (Draft)Date: May 2, 2018 To: Environmental Committee From: David Schmitt, Environmental & Urban Forest Project Manager, Parks & Cemeteries, Infrastructure Services Department cc: th Subject: Draft Sustainable Urban Forestry Strategy, May 17Committee Meeting I am pleased to present to you Kitchener’s first urban forest strategy which has come about through an extensive community engagement and planning process. Staff last attended the Environmental Committee on April 20, 2017 seeking input from the committee at the start of the community engagement process which continued into the fall of 2017. It’s a Trees Life: Kitchener’s Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy 2019-2039 The attached pdf document presents Kitchener’s first long-term strategy for its urban forest, an asset valued by its residents, which also provides important economic, environmental and social benefits to the community. Using the principles of a sustainable urban forest program and the results of the community engagement processes, this strategy presents: our vision for a sustainable urban forest, our goal, the five branches of a sustainable urban forest, and fifteen actions that the city and community canwork collaboratively on to move towards a sustainable urban forest. th On May 7staff launched the start of the public review of the draft strategy by attending the Council th Strategic Session. The opportunity for the community to comment will continue until June 29, 2018. th Atthe May 17Environmental Committee meeting staff will provide a brief presentation and are seekinginput on the draft strategy. The draft strategyandadditional background informationwill be available on the city’s website at th www.kitchener.ca/treesat noon on Friday, May 4. 2 - 1 DRAFT Strategy 2019-2039 Kitchener’s important economic, environmental and Sustainable term strategy for its urban forest, an asset valued by its residents, which also provides Urban Forest IT’S A TREE’S LIFE: 2 - 2 e heard ainable urban forest program? ve branches of a sustainable urban forest What is the urban forest?How is the urban forest important to our community?10 ways trees help usWhat exactly is a sustKitchener’s 2017 sustainable urban forest report card - How we are doing today? ENGAGE often and widely: building critical community support, collaboration and stewardshipMAINTAIN proactively: increasing health, longevity and resiliencyPROTECT prudently: maintaining and maximizing what we already havePLANT correctly and deliberately: ensuring future generations have a vibrant and resilient tree canopy 5 668 Introduction 10 Community engagement – what wKitchener’s Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy 14 16 18 20 22 24 Moving Forward 1326 Table of Contents 2 - 3 (2015-2018) Figure 1 - Corporate direction for strategy Corporate Project SE06 Urban Forest Strategy Kitchener’s Strategic Plan of the current state of our urban forest and the program and the results of the community engagement processes, this strategy presents: city without picturing trees. Trees are a key Introduction element of the living city, whether they play a role in and other creatures. While we are fortunate to have 26 per cent tree canopy across the city today, we will always be here. If our city did not have trees, we know that our health, community wellbeing, property values, air and water quality, biodiversity and wildlife would be harmed, and our city would not be as resilient to a changing climate. This of the city’s green infrastructure. This strategy provides our vision for a sustainable urban forest as well as a framework (Plan, Engage, this strategy to “manage and enhance the urban This work builds on the Background Document – I City of Kitchener 4 2-4 5 Biodiversity Introduction © Emily S. Damstra Areas Natural New DRAFT Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy for Public Review Neighbourhoods a dominant part of the city’s green infrastructure, providing valuable ecological and hydrological Green Intrastructure & Stormwater Parks Wildlife City Lands covers about 26 per cent of the city’s land base. While trees are the most visible part of the urban forest, it also includes the soil required to support and grow trees, and all of the associated biodiversity (e.g. insects, birds, animals, plants) that trees support and to which they are connected. Older Neighbourhoods Lands Private Property Commercial Downtown & Figure 2 - The Urban Forest - a collection of trees and its associated parts forest consists of all of the trees growing on public and private lands, including trees in the downtown, old and new neighbourhoods, commercial and What is the urban forest? 2-5 4 Community Wellbeing Views of trees and being in nature reduces mental distress, increases happiness and improves neighbourhood safety. 3 Climate Change Urban trees and the associated soil directly store carbon, and play an important role in mitigating climate change. 2 Biodiversity & Wildlife The urban forest, plays a vital role in conserving biodiversity and providing habitat for wildlife. 1 Air Quality Trees improve air quality by removing pollutants (ozone) and lowering temperatures. 10 ways trees help us Figure 3 - 10 ways trees help us What do you like about Kitchener’s urban forest? City of Kitchener Introduction How is the urban forest important to our community?other community engagements (e.g. think trees in the city are important. shade, biodiversity, air quality). economic, environmental and social trees play in terms of public health healthy environment (e.g. carbon As part of this project, to increase community awareness on all of the 6 2-6 7 1010 Introduction Stormwater Trees slow, intercept and retain rainfall, improve water quality and reduce the need for costly infrastructure. 9 DRAFT Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy for Public Review Soil Quality Trees play an important role in improving the biological and physical qualities of soil, and reducing soil erosion. 8 Real Estate Large trees can increase property values by up to 15per cent and the presence of healthy trees increases the value of commercial areas. 7 Public Health The presence of trees and natural areas increases physical activity, along with increasing the health and well-being of children. 6 “For me, trees provide needed shade in public spaces.” 5 Cooling the Air By releasing moisture (transpiration) and providing shade, trees cool the city reducing the urban heat island. 2 -7 What do you like about Kitchener’s urban forest? BENEFITS, COST AND LIFE STAGES OF A LARGE STATURE TREE Costs RISKS BENEFITS COSTS City of Kitchener risks and costs, and Introduction What exactly is a sustainable urban forest program?A sustainable urban forest program is one that:••••maintenance (e.g. structural pruning). 8 2-8 9 Introduction DRAFT Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy for Public Review © Emily S. Damstra 2-9 BENEFITS, COSTAND LIFE STAGES OF A LARGE STATURE TREE © Emily S. Damstra L A M I T P O D O O G Kitchener’s 2017 sustainable urban forest report card HOW WE ARE DOING TODAY R I A F W O L City of Kitchener 10 Introduction 2 - 10 11 DRAFT Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy for Public Review •two online surveys, andInterviews with the mayor and councillors key part of this project included an Community Engagement – What We Heard process occurring during the summer A 2- 11 eate e city/ ocess; Include residents indecisions and thepr Focus and cropportunities inneighbourhoods andparks; Recognizcommunity mustwork together for asustainable urban forest. Involve neighbourhoods••• 5 vide ove ovide information Imprcommunicationand information toresidents; Prabout how to plantand care for trees. Communicate and proinformation• • 4 akes to vide incentive uit, wildlife and Address the lengthof time it treplace a tree onceremoved; programs to planttrees on privateproperty; Plant trees for shade,frbiodiversity. ••• an or active educe customer ect trees during Address service levelsand rcomplaints (e.g.low tree limbs oversidewalks/roads); Need fmanagement (e.g.controlling invasivespecies); Protand afterdevelopment. Sustain our existing urbforest••• 2 he value and Strong awarenessof tprovide. he value of Recognize tour trees• City of Kitchener 1 Community Engagement – What We Heard 12 2- 12 13 DRAFT Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy for Public Review , building stewardship. ENGAGE often critical support, collaboration and & widely Kitchener’s Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy 2 - 13 ensuring by to improve MAINTAIN ove customer service eate a proactive maintenance eate an urban forest emergency Impr providing better and timely information while always looking for ways to improve service. Crprogram for city trees customer service, tree health, resiliency, and reduce costs / risks. Crresponse and recovery plan the city has the ability and resiliency to respond to a changing climate. 9 8 10 MAINTAIN proactively, to increase health, longevity and resiliency. helping building with citizens, land ENGAGE ace Love My Hood ease community awareness ease communication and build Incrand stewardship community support, participation and ownership.Embr people to connect and work together to do great things in their neighourhood. Incrcollaboration owners, organizations, agencies, other cities and city departments. 7 56 ENGAGE often & widely, building critical support, collaboration and stewardship. to develop required to reduce PLAN that strives to conserve he urban forest on city ess key gaps evelop a sustainable natural area Addr risk and support implementation of key program components. Manage tlands as a corporate asset cycle management plans and long-range funding requirements. Dmanagement plan for all city owned natural areas their natural history and biodiversity, while minimizing the associated risks and costs. City of Kitchener 23 4 Kitchener’s Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy sustainable and resilient urban forest. 14 2 - 14 ensuring to © Emily S. Damstra PLANT trees growing on all city lands. ork with the community to evelop a tree planting and soil et a tree canopy target and Sdevelop a long-term plan a vibrant and resilient tree canopy for future generations. Wand stewardship program maintain and/or increase the tree canopy on private and public lands. Dmanagement plan for city lands, planting trees sustainably with the focus on growing big, long living trees. 1314 15 PLANT correctly & deliberately, ensuring future generations a vibrant and resilient tree canopy. to maximize current PROTECT ve and protect the urban or and assess destructive Conserforest prudently on public and private lands costs and risks. Monittree pests and invasive species to protect the urban forest and conserve biodiversity. 11 12 2 - 15 to develop porate asset Manage the urban forest on city lands as a cor management plans and long-range funding requirements. city’s corporate assets. All corporate assets are required to develop an asset management plan. of the asset, developing life cycle management plans, long range funding requirements, best 3 required to support the Continue to monitor and address key gaps development of a sustainable program the required plans and policies, risk, climate 2 and risks, planning includes: © Emily S. Damstra or a sustainable urban forest Plan f by setting, supporting, developing and targets. and pursues public and private funding City of Kitchener 1 Kitchener’s Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy 16 2 - 16 17 Kitchener’s Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy DRAFT Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy for Public Review lan for all city owned that strives to conserve their Develop a sustainable natural area management pnatural areas natural history and biodiversity, while minimizing the assoc iated risks and costs.the goals of this strategy. 4 2 - 17 - helping people connect and work agement processes for both the Love My Hood strategy and the urban Embrace Love My Hood together to do great things in their neighbourhood. The engforest strategy revealed that residents want to be involved and have choices to support the urban forest, especially at the neighbourhood and park level. This 6 building ENGAGE often and widely: building critical community support, collaboration and stewardship © Emily S. Damstra ease community awareness and stewardship Incr community support, participation and ownership.the care of trees, the services the city provides, increasing community City of Kitchener 5 Kitchener’s Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy 18 2 - 18 19 Kitchener’s Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy Kitchener’s Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy DRAFT Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy for Public Review ree give-away days combined with public Ttraining sessions on where and how to plant them, how to care for them, and resources that are available to help maintain healthy trees.” What could the city do to help support trees on private property?“ Increase communication and build collaboration with citizens, land owners, organizations, agencies, other cities and city departments.seeking to build partnerships and synergies. 7 2 - 19 ensuring esponse and recovery plan Create an urban forest emergency r the city has the ability and resiliency to respond to a changing climate.developing an urban forest emergency response the city has the preparedness and resources to occurs a recovery plan for maintenance and 10 to improve customer Create a proactive maintenance program for city trees service, tree health, resiliency, and reduce costs / risks. 9 by MAINTAIN proactively: increasing health, longevity and resiliency © Emily S. Damstra ommunity engagement ove customer service Impr providing more information at the right time.During the cprocess, one of the top messages provided to residents. City of Kitchener 8 Kitchener’s Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy 20 2 - 20 21 DRAFT Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy for Public Review In 25 years, what do you want so that they survive to maturity.” Kitchener’s urban forest to look like? “. . . better maintenance of young trees 2 - 21 or and assess destructive tree pests and invasive species Monit to protect the urban forest and conserve biodiversity. D 12 PROTECT prudently: maintaining and maximizing what we already havePROTECT prudently: maintaining and maximizing what we already have In 25 years, what do you want Kitchener’s urban forest to look like? © Emily S. Damstra ve and protect the urban forest prudently on public “In 25 years, I hope that we have areas where urban forests are protected and thriving.” Conserand private lands while minimizing costs and risks. City of Kitchener Kitchener’s Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy 22 11 2 - 22 23 Kitchener’s Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy DRAFT Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy for Public Review 2 - 23 to maintain and/or increase lanting and stewardship program p the tree canopy on private and public lands. 14 PLANT correctly and deliberately: ensuring future generations have a PLANT correctly and deliberately: ensuring future generations have a vibrant and resilient tree canopyvibrant and resilient tree canopy undisturbed, and there was adequate rainfall. undisturbed, and there was adequate rainfall. © Emily S. Damstra ensuring a vibrant and resilient tree canopy for Set a tree canopy target and develop a long-term plan future generations. community has the choice to set a goal to maintain or increase the set targets for neighbourhoods. City of Kitchener 13 Kitchener’s Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy 24 2 - 24 25 Kitchener’s Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy DRAFT Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy for Public Review evelop a tree planting and soil nt to see areas that are Dmanagement plan for city lands,planting trees sustainably with the focus on growing big, long living trees. 15 I wadesignated for urban forest planting, hopefully to bring the canopy to 28 or 30%. I want to see the city maintain urban forests. No trees means no clean air.” In 25 years, what do you want Kitchener’s urban forest to look like?“ 2 - 25 Moving Forward and the environment not just for now, but for the future. W City of Kitchener 26 2 - 26 © Emily S. Damstra 2 - 27 This strategy is printed on 100% recycled paper 2 - 28