On January 25, CBC Radio 1′s Ontario Today’s Gardening Phone-in with Ed Lawrence focused on the management of urban trees and the need for stronger by-laws to protect them.
Guelph activist Diane Hurst was not only able to call in to talk to Ed, she also managed to get us a copy of the audio to put up on the website.
Well done, Diane!
Listen to the segment:
A Large Urban Elm Tree
Guelph citizens have now been waiting for a new stronger protective tree by-law for over 19 years. In the meantime we continue to lose canopy.
Guelph’s urban forest canopy sits at 25%, while the desired level is 40%.
Guelph Urban Forest Friends have been advocating for our urban trees, including a stronger protective tree bylaw and a separate urban forestry department with a certified forester to more effectively manage tree maintenance and coordinate public education on the value of our mature trees.
If you feel strongly about this issue, please contact Mayor and Council.
Tell them to get the Strategic Urban Forestry Management Plan completed and a strong protective bylaw passed. Let them know that the protection and management of our urban forest will be an election issue this October.
Contacting Guelph City Council
Mayor Farbridge: mayor@guelph.ca
Ward 1: Bob Bell bob.bell@guelph.ca, Kathleen Farrelly kathleen.farrelly@guelph.ca
Ward 2: Vicki Beard vicki.beard@guelph.ca, Ian Findlay ian.findlay@guelph.ca
Ward 3: Maggie Laidlaw maggie.laidlaw@guelph.ca, June Hofland june.hofland@guelph.ca
Ward 4: Gloria Kovach gloria.kovach@guelph.ca, Mike Salisbury mike.salisbury@guelph.ca
Ward 5: Lise Burcher lise.burcher@guelph.ca, Leanne Piper leanne.piper@guelph.ca
Ward 6: Christine Billings christine.billings@guelph.ca, Karl Wettstein karl.wettstein@guelph.ca
Don’t know your ward? Click here to see the map
April 1, 2010 at 3:53 pm
I feel for you. In Newcastle in Australia we have a chief city arborist who has a plan to remove and replace our mature trees.He says we have ‘moved beyond tree preservation’.He started with one of our most beautiful streets about 5 years ago;it was lined with native fig trees and was like a green cathedral.Sadly 2 of the trees had fallen in storms, one because council had cut through its roots not long before. Council had a couple of issues – public liability etc but mainly they wanted to replace some power lines under the road and it was easier to remove the 80 year old trees. Now they’re onto another street. The community were ready for them and we’ve delayed them 6 months but they’re clever and I think they’ll win. Summers here get to 40 deg C so imagine these streets with the little trees they will want to put in.We have an urban forest policy and a plan to increase our tree canopy every year but it feels like 1 step forwards, 2 steps backwards.
Good luck in your work.
I love your art competition.
Cheers, Caity Raschke http://saveourfigs.wordpress.com
April 20, 2010 at 7:00 am
Maybe some of your member might be interested in exploring “Treecycle”.
This forum is inspired by the phenomenal success of Freecycle.
As an architect and former construction worker, I have seen a hideous amount of perfectly good wood and wood products being disposed of on a daily basis. I found that “pieces of wood” did not fit too well on Freecycle, because it is a little obscure and the volume available is often beyond what typical households could utilize (truckloads).
Treecycle is meant more for people who are associated with the construction industry, and for people who want to build projects that use fewer resources (trees and dollars).
I would like this to be a free exchange of not only real resources, but ideas and advice as well. For instance, If you know of a project that wants rid of leftover 2x4s, or has skidloads of 1/2″ Red Oak trimmings available on a daily basis, I’d like the info posted.
Also, If you’ve devised a method of turning tree stumps into work benches, also add a note.
If you know of a store or organization that also does what I’m trying to do here, I won’t mind if they use this as a forum to advertise.
We are based out of Cambridge, Ontario, but I don’t care where you are from…
…as long as you share my passion for wood and its conservation, you are welcome here.
Harsh criticisms of bad behaviour, MIGHT be monitored, though. I don’t want this to become a hotbed for flaming.
Cheers
April 22, 2010 at 6:38 pm
Hi Caity,
Thanks for the message from Australia!
The fear of risk from falling trees/limbs can lead to massive expenditures on defensive tree management and unwarranted, irrational culling of trees.
Experts say one of the greatest threats to veteran (old) trees is misunderstanding (Read 2000). Many have been cut down as they were thought to be dying, diseased and dangerous. Those who study veteran trees know that they naturally shed branches, which helps to relieve the pressure on declining root and leaf systems and helps the tree maintain stability.
Trees may last for centuries in this way, and this final stage can be the longest in a tree’s life. Pruning some limbs from these trees will usually make them safe (Corney 2007).
In the UK, the Health and Safety Executive, in charge of establishing safety guidelines, has determined that the risk of someone being killed by a tree in a public place is about 1 in 20 million. (HSE 2007). Compare that with the odds of being killed in a terrorist attack (1:650,000) or the risk of being killed by lightening (1:1 million) (CBC; Environment Canada).
A common risk analysis model suggests that the risk of death of 1:10,000 is unacceptable, while the risk of death of 1:1 million is broadly acceptable. Taken in this context, the risk from trees is miniscule.
Cities need a tree risk management strategy based upon reasonable control of risk. The unquestionable and significant benefits of mature trees must be factored into this strategy. Cities should also have a shade policy that supports strong maintenance and protection of mature trees for shade on streets and in parks. Trees reduce the heat island effect of cities, and enhance air and water quality. Thus healthier citizens and a healthier planet.
For more information: http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/NR/rdonlyres/962235E1-D308-4984-A267-EE0F192AA7DA/0/08VeterantreesBAP.pdf
Thanks for sharing your information, Caity, and good luck in working for the changes that our cities need. We love hearing from other places. All the best from your leafy friends in Canada. GUFF.