Members of the Community Trees Matter Network and the Creatively United for the Planet Society have enthusiastically encouraged the City of Victoria to strengthen its tree preservation bylaws and adopt the strategic plan and budget that will see the Urban Forest Master Plan, adopted in 2013, finally implemented.

The lack of implementation of this plan has resulted in a huge loss of mature trees in our city and created ongoing conflict between developers and residents concerned about protecting our urban tree canopy.

As noted in the Urban Forest Master Plan, about two thirds of highly or moderately treed areas are located on private lands. Therefore, the success of the plan will depend heavily on regulating the actions that can be taken by homeowners and developers.

One possibility is to reward private landowners through a granting process, similar to what Saanich is currently using, to provide funds for the maintenance and care of significant trees.

Saanich has more than 150 significant trees on its list.

Victoria has none on its list of “significant trees” in the Tree Protection Bylaw identified in Schedule A (see last page of bylaw). So, despite its name, the Tree Protection Bylaw actually protects very few trees in Victoria.

• To rectify this, staff could be assigned to conduct an immediate inventory of significant trees. Knowing the range of significant trees will help staff recommend the most relevant bylaw updates and provide alternatives to working around trees.
• Budget for a permanent staff position in 2019 to implement the 2013 UFMP in coordination with all departments making decisions about trees – such as: engineering, planning and parks.
• Set neighbourhood-based targets for Victoria’s tree canopy, whereby staff with urban forest canopy expertise participate in the local area planning process.
• Request public works research ways to detour sewer connections when valuable trees are at stake, such as using torpedo tunnelling technology, and include a budget item for the city to share the cost with the landowner.
• Provide greater transparency to the public, including annual reporting to the public of a) permits approved and denied for tree removal by size, species and location, b) species and locations of new trees planted (not including those on rooftops or in containers), and c) annual canopy loss/gain.
• Amend the Heritage Conservation and Heritage Designation to include the “Designation and conservation of natural and built heritage”
• And, convene an Urban Forest Steering Committee / Advisory Group to assist with the review of best practices in other jurisdictions, including options for financial incentives to private landowners. Members of our organization would be delighted to lend our support.

Trees Matter! In summary, let me share a few facts with you:

The City of Halifax has calculated that for every dollar spent on a tree, $8 comes back in benefits… Plus, Halifax trees provide $9.6 million in air purifying services; $12.4 million in cooling services and $2.1 million for storm water management

As a tree grows, the benefits grow. Mature trees are valuable.

Mature trees absorb pollutants and purify air, offer storm water absorption, cooling, sequester carbon, lower stress, crime, noise, increase property values, provide shelter for birds and animals, and offer dozens more really useful and important services, basically for free!

The social, health and economic value of trees is indisputable.

Continuing to approve new developments that include removing trees on private land would undermine any attempt to effectively implement the Urban Forest Master Plan in the future. It’s time to make trees matter!