www.guffguelph.cawww.guffguelph.ca

GUFFGuelph Urban Guelph Urban Forest FriendsForest Friends

Sustainable GuelphSustainable Guelph

www.guffguelph.ca

Guelph Urban Forest Friends (GUFF)We are a group of citizens advocating for Low Impact Development (LID) and an urban forestry department to maintain and increase the health, integrity and area of Guelph’s tree canopy

Purpose of presentationPurpose of presentation To stress the importance of trees To stress the importance of trees

in a healthy communityin a healthy community To outline the current development To outline the current development

practices that harm trees in practices that harm trees in our urban environmentour urban environment

To show the benefits To show the benefits of Low Impact Development (LID)of Low Impact Development (LID)

To outline actions for changeTo outline actions for change

The importance of trees for healthThe importance of trees for health

Trees improve air quality by removing many harmful substances from the air including: carbon dioxide nitrous oxide sulphur dioxide ozone the very damaging

particulates University of Guelph

Air quality affects health costsAir quality affects health costs The Ontario Government spends

over $0.5 billion each year on health costs related to poor air quality

Over 5,000 people die every year in Ontario from conditions associated with poor quality air

Thousands more are hospitalized

From: “The Illness Costs of Air Pollution”, OMA

Trees combat climate changeTrees combat climate change

Trees reduce greenhouse gases by capturing carbon dioxide

Large healthy trees are important for our tree canopy

www.treesontario.ca

Two similar homes. The house on the left has significantly decreased heating & air conditioning costs.

Trees reduce energy needsTrees reduce energy needs

“A study in Charlottesville, VA showed that when tree cover dropped by 8% between 1976 – 2000, the amount of run-off increased by 19%”

GRCA Forester Virginia Gauley, GRCA Watershed Report

Trees enhance river qualityTrees enhance river quality

Removal of healthy trees increases run-off. This degrades water resources with pollutants and sediment from roads and rooftops.

Trees reduce run-off to river after stormsTrees reduce run-off to river after storms

Trees stabilize the amount of after-storm river flow.

“Our city needs a stable amount of river water for wastewater management”

GRCA Watershed Report “Investing in Trees”

Trees affect after-storm river volumeTrees affect after-storm river volume

Hanlon Creek Business Park, where aquifers of the Paris/Galt moraine are recharged. Guelph water comes from the Paris/Galt moraine.

Trees and soil filter rain and snow-melt, Trees and soil filter rain and snow-melt, which increases ground water for which increases ground water for GuelphGuelph

Properties with mature trees sell for 10-25% more than those without trees

Trees increase property valueTrees increase property value

Mammals, birds and Mammals, birds and insects need treesinsects need trees

Some pollinators Some pollinators require specific treesrequire specific trees

Trees provide habitat and foodTrees provide habitat and food

“Southern Ontario has the strongest UV radiation in Canada. The greatest protection is afforded by trees with dense wide canopies and low foliage.”Shade for Good Health and a Green City, Toronto Cancer Prevention Coalition

Trees enhance health by providing shade Trees enhance health by providing shade and UV protection for outdoor activitiesand UV protection for outdoor activities

reduced sun reduced sun exposure exposure encourages encourages walking and walking and bikingbiking

UV radiation in the early UV radiation in the early years is a major years is a major determinant for skin cancer, determinant for skin cancer, increased risk of other increased risk of other cancers and cataractscancers and cataracts

UV radiation can also UV radiation can also depress the immune depress the immune systemsystem

“ “Shade for Good Health and a Shade for Good Health and a

Green City”, Toronto Cancer Green City”, Toronto Cancer Prevention CoalitionPrevention Coalition

80% of all UV radiation is 80% of all UV radiation is accumulated in the first 18 yearsaccumulated in the first 18 years

Schools grounds and parks are prime settings for Shade Policy Children spend 25% of the school day outdoors

“Shade for Good Health and a Green City”, Toronto Cancer Prevention Coalition

Trees reduce stressTrees reduce stress

Park-like settings increase health and well-being

Royal City Park

www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

Trees contribute to our heritage value

Designated heritage property includes heritage trees

But many current practices are reducing our forest canopy and lowering our resistance to climate stress. This is making our city less sustainable

We need to practiceWe need to practice Low Impact Development (LID)Low Impact Development (LID)

to have a sustainable futureto have a sustainable future

Low Impact Development (LID) places roads and pipes outside treed hedgerows, preserving natural benefits of healthy ecosystems. This reduces costs and greenhouse gases, thereby increasing sustainability.

Low impact development Low impact development preserves natural benefits !preserves natural benefits !

Source: LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT Technical Guidance Manual for Puget Sound. Puget Sound Action Team, Washington State University Pierce County Extension. January 2005. Graphic by AHBL Engineering.

Current development practiceCurrent development practiceBEFORE AFTER

Victoria Road: tree branches stripped prior to removal Heritage trees are removed, heritage home remains

An ambient temperature of 26 degrees can increase to 48-55 degrees on paved surfaces. The effects on health are considerable. (Shade for Good Health and a Green City, Toronto 2007)

Current development practiceCurrent development practice

Interspersing trees in paved areas reduces the ‘heat Interspersing trees in paved areas reduces the ‘heat island’ effect and deterioration of asphaltisland’ effect and deterioration of asphalt

Parking lot in Munich, Germany, Oct 2007

‘‘Places to Grow’ Places to Grow’ legislation legislation compels Guelph to grow to compels Guelph to grow to 165,000 population by 2031165,000 population by 2031

This means thousands of new, This means thousands of new, infill homes for our city of infill homes for our city of 115,000 115,000

www.guelph.cawww.guelph.ca

Current infill practiceCurrent infill practiceBEFORE AFTER

13 healthy trees were removed from this infill lot, two on city property. LID would have retained some.

Same lot; The new house has increased storm-water run-off, reduced groundwater infiltration and increased energy demand

Photo: mass.edu/urbantree/hazard

When roots are cut, trees can When roots are cut, trees can starve or topplestarve or topple

Most feeder roots for a tree are in the top foot of soil Roots are frequently cut close to the tree

Compaction also damages rootsCompaction also damages roots Trees with damaged roots can die within five years LID would protect these trees to the drip-line (outer

edge of the canopy)

19911991((Park Naturalization PolicyPark Naturalization Policy)) tree by-law must be revised "in order to control the number of trees, woodlots & tree by-law must be revised "in order to control the number of trees, woodlots &

habitat destroyed annually by development" habitat destroyed annually by development" 

1994 1994 ((Green PlanGreen Plan)) "Methods for protecting trees from development should be developed“"Methods for protecting trees from development should be developed“

2003 (2003 (Environmental Action Plan)Environmental Action Plan) recommends tree inventory, updating tree by-law to protect natural features and recommends tree inventory, updating tree by-law to protect natural features and

developing guidelines to protect trees during constructiondeveloping guidelines to protect trees during construction

2005 (2005 (Council resolution)Council resolution) asks staff to prepare funding request for urban forest study and tree maintenance asks staff to prepare funding request for urban forest study and tree maintenance

programprogram

20072007((Strategic Plan Goal 6.6)Strategic Plan Goal 6.6) ““A biodiverse city with the highest tree canopy among comparable cities”A biodiverse city with the highest tree canopy among comparable cities”

Guelph’s policies and intentionsGuelph’s policies and intentions

In 2009In 2009

Guelph is still losing trees and canopy Guelph is still losing trees and canopy due to high impact development and no due to high impact development and no protective tree policyprotective tree policy

18 years of inaction on many plans has 18 years of inaction on many plans has resulted in the removal of thousands of resulted in the removal of thousands of trees from our canopytrees from our canopy

Guelph’s current situationGuelph’s current situation

40% tree canopy is advised for cities to withstand the negative effects of climate change

Guelph currently has about 27% tree canopy

New plantings take 20-25 years before they add to canopy

Hanlon Creek, headwaters of the Grand River, where development plans to mass-grade hundreds of acres that will result in the loss of moraine features, 1700 mature trees, 33 acres of canopy and 6 acres of wetlandEnvironmental Implementation Report 2009

In June 2009, a local developer leveled over 60 acresof forest that had been identified as a critical linkagebetween the Hanlon Creek and Mill CreekHanlon Creek Subwatershed Study,1993

Many cities have Many cities have stronger tree bylaws stronger tree bylaws than Guelph than Guelph including:including:

TorontoToronto MississaugaMississauga WaterlooWaterloo Richmond HillRichmond Hill KingstonKingston OakvilleOakville BarrieBarrie

~260 year old Maple

What our city needs to doWhat our city needs to do

Pass a treePass a tree bylawbylaw to to provide oversight and provide oversight and protection from further protection from further loss of canopyloss of canopy

Establish an Urban Forestry Department

Hire a certified forester Promote Low Impact

Development and Shade Policy

Bullring, University of Guelph

What can individuals do?What can individuals do? Demand good construction practice Inform builders about the benefits of LID Be aware of zoning notices Be active before the construction starts Talk with your neighbours about LID and Shade

Policy Boycott developers who do not use LID Contact your elected officials about your

concerns visit www.guelph.ca for email and phone contact info

for mayor, councillors and city planners

Support tree advocacy, Support tree advocacy, protection and shade policyprotection and shade policy Guelph Urban Guelph Urban

Forest Friends can Forest Friends can be contacted at be contacted at www.guffguelph.ca

Or visit us under the Or visit us under the Big Umbrella at the Big Umbrella at the Guelph Farmers Guelph Farmers Market on Saturday Market on Saturday morningsmornings

For A Sustainable GuelphFor A Sustainable Guelph

www.guffguelph.ca