Urban Forests
Urban forests are increasingly under threat in British Columbia and around the world
Urban forests are coming down in spite of concerns about hot and dry weather and the urban heat island effect. We need forests to create rain, clean the air and absorb pollution and yet urban forests are coming down anyway.
City councils don’t understand the importance of trees
City councils are often beholden to developers and are not held responsible for their decisions negatively impacting trees, forests and wildlife.
Photo: Adrien Olichon/Pexels
Tree Protection Bylaws and Urban Forest Strategies
Metro Vancouver has a tool kit that municipalities are supposed to follow about increasing tree canopy. Despite this many Lower Mainland councils seem to do what they please. One dramatic example is the lengths that the Vancouver Park Board has gone to deforest Stanley Park, cutting the larger living trees while leaving the thinner less marketable ones. They maintain that it’s to combat the hemlock looper moth but that doesn’t explain why they are cutting down healthy, living trees.
Unfortunately Bill 44, the BC Housing Statutes (Residential Development) Amendment Act, 2023 will likely negatively impact tree protections and significantly reduce urban forests throughout British Columbia. The Narwhal article, New Housing Rules in B.C. trigger fears of ‘catastrophic’ loss of urban trees addresses the harms of Bill 44 relating to the ability to protect trees and to protect local autonomy. “Critics say the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach removes local autonomy and threatens urban forests, including Greater Victoria’s endangered Garry oak ecosystem.” Adam Olsen, a BC Green Party MLA, says that the BC NDP government failed to consult the public about Bill 44 ‘in any way.’
How do we protect urban forests in the face of development pressures and now Bill 44? Below are links to municipal tree bylaws and local efforts to protect trees. One hopes that Bill 44 can be challenged on the basis that it removes municipal autonomy.
Municipalities in BC
Aldergrove
Please see Langley
Burnaby
Burnaby Tree Protection Bylaw
Burnaby Urban Forest Strategy
Chilliwack
Chilliwack Tree Protection Bylaw
Chilliwack Urban Forests
Chilliwack Urban Forest Advocates
Chilliwack Urban Forest Advocates Facebook Group
Coquitlam
Coquitlam Tree Management Bylaw
Delta
Delta Tree Management Bylaw
Preserve the Winskill Park Forest
District of North Vancouver
District of North Vancouver Tree Protection Bylaw
Langley
Langley Township Tree Protection Bylaw
Langley Township Community Forest Management Strategy
Lantzville
Lantzville finally adopted a tree protection by-law in 2022 – the Lantzville Tree Protection Bylaw but still allowed a developer to clear a massive chunk of land off the main Lantzville Road.
Metro Vancouver
CBC News Metro Vancouver tree canopy in decline amid push for new housing | April 2024
2020 Regional Tree Canopy Cover and Impervious Surface in Metro Vancouver | March 2024
Nanaimo
“Urban forests are a valuable component to our environment and Nanaimo is fortunate to enjoy one that is rich in diversity. As this is a time of year for preparing our yards and gardens for the growing season ahead, residents should be aware of the Tree Bylaw and ensure they are complying with it.”. Patrick McIntosh, Urban Forestry Coordinator, City of Nanaimo
Nanaimo Tree Protection Bylaw
Nanaimo Urban Forestry
Penticton
Penticton Tree Protection Bylaw
Penticton’s Urban Forest Facebook Group
Port Coquitlam
Port Coquitlam Tree Protection Bylaw
Richmond
Richmond Tree Protection Bylaw
Save Richmond Trees Facebook Group
Richmond News East Richmond residents up in arms about healthy trees taken down | July 2024
Saanich
Saanich Tree Protection Bylaw
Saanich Urban Forest Strategy
Saanich Bill 44 leading Saanich to consider review of their tree protection policy!
Vancouver
Vancouver Street Tree By-law
Vancouver Urban Forests
Vancouver 2022 Tree Canopy Assessment (via Facebook)
Vancouver Vancouver Let’s Talk Trees! With Park Board Commissioner Tom Digby Facebook Group
Vancouver Ancient Trees of Vancouver Facebook Group
Provincial Vancouver Charter Part XXIX Protection of Trees
Green Party of Vancouver Opposition Councillors unite to seek ABC support to expand urban tree canopy to fight global warming and protect peoples’ health city-wide
Victoria
Victoria Tree Protection Bylaw
Victoria Trees & Urban Forest
Garry Oak Meadow Preservation Society
View Royal
Town of View Royal Request for audit of Bill 44 | November 2023
More municipality info coming soon
Image by Viateur Beaulieu from Pixabay