Urban Forest Management Strategy
What is the urban forest?
An urban forest includes all of the publicly and privately-owned trees and supporting vegetation in an urban area. This includes individual trees and groups of trees located in natural areas, parks, backyards, on streets, and in commercial and industrial zones. Other elements such as plants, water, soil, micro-organisms, and wildlife are also part of this forest community. Each of these elements, in addition to people and the built environment, have an influence on the health of the urban forest. Tree canopy cover, defined as land covered by tree crowns as viewed from the air, is how we measure the many benefits provided by the urban forest.
The illustrations show the many benefits of the urban forest canopy across a range of spaces found throughout New Westminster.
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What is the role of the urban forest?
1. Health and well-being: Trees clean the air by capturing particulates and through absorption and adsorption of other pollutants. Research also supports that trees and greenspaces provide a broad range of benefits including reduced stress, improved attention span, faster recovery from surgery, higher levels of physical activity and community connectivity.
2. Environmental health: The urban forest provides habitat and contributes to urban biodiversity. Trees and vegetation intercept and clean stormwater before it reaches natural waterways.
3. Energy savings: Trees, and green infrastructure, when strategically placed can provide savings on heating and cooling costs for buildings.
4. Comfort/shade/microclimate: Trees provide comfort by moderating the climate at street level. Trees provide shade and evapo-transpirative cooling that gives people relief on hot summer days.
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What is the status of the urban forest in New Westminster?
As of early 2014, New Westminster’s urban forest canopy cover stands at 18%. Relative to the North American average (27% forest canopy) and the recommended “best practice” (40% forest canopy), New Westminster has room for improvement. Perhaps more importantly, New Westminster’s urban forest canopy has been declining over the past two decades, highlighting the need to better manage the urban forest and protect the valuable functions it provides.
The urban forest canopy coverage in the City of New Westminster has been in a state decline at a rate of 1.5% per year (that’s a 15% decline from 2004). Further analysis of canopy cover change since 2004 shows a slight increase in tree planting along streets with the vast majority of loss occurring on private lands (outside the public realm of streets, boulevards and parks). The urban forest management plan looks at how to best address this trend, implement best practices and provide a “roadmap” to help guide the City of New Westminster and its residents to protect, maintain and enhance the urban forest for the future.
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If you are interested in the status of the urban forest in your neighbourhood click on the image below.
The strategy: From decline to reforestation
In 2014, the City of New Westminster began developing an Urban Forest Management Strategy to address further loss and increase urban forest canopy and the associated benefits it provides to everyone. The Urban Forest Management Strategy is intended to be implemented over a 20 year time frame (2015 - 2035) and is based on inventory data and a review of policy and best management practices for urban forestry. The Strategy identifies a comprehensive set of 40 actions to reverse the current trend and increase the tree canopy cover from 18% to a target of 27% this equates to an additional 8,500 trees planted on public lands and 3,300 trees planted on private lands.
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What can you do?
By protecting trees on your property you can help us grow New Westminster’s urban forest. Here are other ways you can help:
- During hot, dry weather, assist us by watering boulevard trees. Twice a week, water the roots of trees near your property with 12–20 litres of water (5–10 minutes with a slow running water hose or a couple of large watering can full).
- Comply with Open Fire Bans and Fire Danger Ratings and practice forest fire safety to protect our forests.
- Keep aware of young, stressed trees adjacent to your property (usually indicated by leaves turning brown or falling).
- Follow New Westminster’s Tree Protection and Regulation Bylaw if removing trees on private property. If you remove a tree, plant a new one where possible. Learn more about Tree Removal Permits, when they are issued, and how to apply.
