AWARE Essa urges improved tree protection in new Official Plan

from AWARE Essa

The following is the text of a presentation to Essa Council on Wednesday June 3, 2015

Introduction and greeting

AWARE Essa is here tonight to request that Essa council work toward creating a Tree Protection Strategy for the township. The Woodlands Resources Policy in Essa’s Official Plan includes protection of significant woodlands and a commitment to increase forest cover within the township. But trees on areas less than a hectare (2 ½ acres) are left out of the policy. Additions to Essa’s Official Plan would remedy this gap. Whether trees grow in busy populated towns and villages or in rural areas, they provide essential services to communities.

Trees have played a central role in the history and culture of Essa—white pines were the staple of a booming lumber industry. Woodlots on farms provided firewood and ash as fertilizer. Trees were so valuable that by the early part of the 20^th century, deforestation was causing water sources to dry up in places, and flooding and erosion became disastrous. Thanks to the efforts of a group of conservationists, including Edmund Zavitz and E. C. Drury, new tree policies and a successful tree planting program were put in place. Over the decades their efforts gave us many of the forests in Simcoe County, the Midhurst Tree Nursery and the Angus Tree Seed Plant. Their legacy is ours to protect.

But trees in Essa are threatened on many fronts. Development pressure in Simcoe County is intense. Land owners may remove trees long before submitting plans to a municipality for approval so that they avoid any tree preservation requirements. In spite of the value of woodlots to agriculture, tree cover on farms continues to decline. As we saw firsthand last summer, tornados can inflict tremendous damage on trees and houses. Insect pests such as the Emerald Ash Borer are set to destroy ash trees and reduce tree cover in Essa. And climate change, with the extreme temperatures, periods of drought and increases in the severity of storms that we are already experiencing, will bring severe stresses for both newly planted and mature trees.

Essa’s trees need help! Sometime within the next year the Official Plan will be up for renewal. This will give Council an opportunity to make changes and additions and to consult the public. We would like to propose additions to the Woodlands Resources Policy in the Official Plan to include trees other than woodlands.

We have used “Healthy Community Design, Policy Statements for Official Plans,” an excellent document published by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit as a resource for some of our policy suggestions.

Policy 1

The many documented benefits of trees and their potential in establishing a healthy community by improving physical, mental, social and economic well-being shall be acknowledged and particular attention shall be given to planting and maintaining trees in areas where they can make the best contribution.

1. “Extreme Heat Mitigation: Incorporate vegetation and tree planting in new, existing and future developments to increase areas for shade and assist with dissipation of heat.” (p. 15)
2. Physical Activity and Active Transportation. To provide shade and protection from wind, trees shall be planted and maintained in parks and playgrounds, as well as along trails, sidewalks, bike lanes and roads that are part of active transportation routes.
3. Improved Health. Given that trees and natural spaces have been shown to reduce stress, improve cognitive ability and facilitate healing, trees shall be planted and maintained near schools, medical facilities, seniors’ homes and day cares.
4. Green Infrastructure. Trees play a critical role in maintaining ecosystems and are a cost-effective and low maintenance source of services to the community:

• Air pollution. Maintain and plant trees along busy roads and around industrial areas to reduce particulate matter and toxic gases in the air.
• Flood and erosion prevention. Since trees absorb rainfall and snowmelt, slowing and decreasing runoff that can cause flooding and erosion, trees shall be planted and maintained not only in buffers along waterways but throughout all floodplain and adjacent areas.
• Water and soil quality. To take advantage of the capacity of trees and soil organisms to break down and absorb pollutants, trees shall be planted in industrial and agricultural areas, especially near waterways.
• Climate change. One of the most critical services provided by trees is their role in slowing climate change. Since the capacity of trees to store carbon increases with their maturity, healthy older trees shall be maintained and new trees shall be planted to mitigate climate change for future generations.

Many more benefits of trees could be added, including noise control, privacy, aesthetics, lowering heating and cooling costs, habitat for wildlife, but this list is a start. Native trees that have adapted to local conditions are the best choice for planting, and invasive species such as Norway maple should be avoided.

Policy 2

Recognition of heritage trees in both urban and rural areas, including single trees, groves of trees, avenues of trees, windrows or windbreaks shall be part of the tree management plan.

Designating heritage trees can be a formal process involving applications to Ontario Heritage Trees or a more informal local process based on a “made in Essa” definition of heritage trees, which could include trees that are exceptional specimens of native trees; trees planted near significant places such as the cenotaph, schools, churches, the post office; trees that have historical significance.

Identifying and designating heritage trees would increase public awareness and interest in protecting trees. Involving residents in tree mapping, tree walks, photographing trees and learning about the history of local trees would strengthen connections to community and help us get to know the trees of Essa.

Policy 3

“A community-wide Urban Forestry Management Plan shall be developed to maximize the environmental and community health benefits of having healthy trees, with particular attention to protecting the community’s stock of existing trees, supporting the growth of new trees and expanding the tree canopy in the community.” (p. 11)

With a tree management policy in effect, the municipality would be able to lead by example in demonstrating best practices. Tree management projects could be publicized so that all residents can understand and participate in decisions to cut, plant, or prune trees.

Developing and implementing an Urban Forestry Management Plan will require access to advice from an expert arborist, but one of the goals of the plan would be ongoing community involvement to increase awareness of the value of trees. No tree protection strategy can succeed without community support and Essa residents could be a source of ideas for tree projects and funding

Increasing protection of trees in Essa’s Official Plan would strengthen ties to Essa’s history, publicly acknowledge the great value of trees, enhance lifestyle and community connection, increase recreational opportunities for both local residents and tourists and create a secure legacy for future generations.