Coquitlam’s environmental staff will bring on an expert this summer to help create a new strategy to protect and increase the urban forest.
On Monday (July 10), Erin Gorby, the city’s urban forestry and parks services manager, outlined the steps for developing the Urban Forestry Management Strategy, including hiring a consultant to steer the short- and long-term work.
Council budgeted $115,000 for the blueprint that will be ready by next summer.
Specifically, the document will look at tree retention on public and private lands, stewardship and “incentive-driving initiatives” to boost the number of trees.
Trees, Gorby said, not only provide shade and human health benefits, but also clean the air and lead to reduced property crime and increased property values.
According to a Metro Vancouver report from 2019, Coquitlam’s tree canopy cover is at about 40 per cent — above the regional average of 32 per cent.
However, the city tree cover is also declining due to development, it reads.
Metro Vancouver has a target of 40 per cent by 2050 in regional urban areas.
As a result, many Metro municipalities have launched new tree strategies (Vancouver, Surrey, Richmond, New Westminster, Delta and Abbotsford), while Port Moody and Burnaby are developing their tree management frameworks.
Gorby said last year’s Tree Spree in Coquitlam saw 10,000 trees in the ground, doubling the city’s typical planting target for the year, on public and private lots.
And in March, the Tri-Cities Urban Forest Forum called for better tree canopies.
Gorby said the city plans to continue to work with School District 43 and developers to provide forestry education and tree plantings at redeveloped sites.
Still, she made clear the new strategy won’t over-ride the city’s tree bylaw.
Coun. Brent Asmundson, who chairs the Sustainability and Environmental Advisory Committee, said the city also needs to “balance” the demand for more affordable housing.
“We’re way behind right now,” he said of home building.
But Coun. Teri Towner said she’s confident the city can meet both goals.
Coun. Craig Hodge said staff can work with developers to plant mature trees.
“Two small trees don’t equal a 100-year-old tree that comes down,” he said while pressing for a variety of trees, especially evergreens, in the new strategy.
