Executive summary
- The social, environmental, and economic value that urban forests provide to communities has been a focus of municipal discourse over the last several years across Ontario and Canada. The City of Burlington has taken steps to promote the growth of the urban forest through the adoption of the Corporate Tree Protection and Enhancement Policy, as well as establishing metrics for success with the City’s Vision to Focus document with guidelines for implementation within the City’s Official Plan.
- To support urban forest growth, City council adopted a Private Tree By-law in 2020 within the City’s Urban Boundary with the purpose of preserving healthy trees and giving tree removal a sober second thought. The Public and Private Tree By-laws are administered by the Forest Protection branch of the Forestry section. In addition, this team provides inter-departmental support as subject matter experts for other tree related matters. In 2021, within the development stream, staff reviewed 419 applications for injury or removals, with 285 permits issued.
- Within the non-development stream, staff reviewed 1,300 applications for injury or removals with 945 permits issued. It should be noted that applications and permits are issued on a per application basis and could include multiple trees. A combined total of nearly 1,370 trees were removed between both permit streams in 2021, regardless of condition or exemption. A total of 1,142 replacement trees will be planted as conditions of these permits, in addition to $228,000 paid as cash-in-lieu of replacement. These funds are earmarked for investment in incentive-based strategies to support urban forest growth in future.
Climate implications
- Trees contribute towards the City’s climate change goals both through their role in climate mitigation, sequestering carbon, adaptation by reducing the heat island effect, promoting infiltration and interception of rainwater, and improving air quality.
- Trees also improve the overall environment through their aesthetic qualities, providing habitat, reducing noise pollution, contributing to stress reduction, as well as screening and privacy.
- These benefits accrue to both private properties and the community at large.