UR BAN F OR E ST ST R AT E GY DR AF T GOAL S & ACT - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

UR BAN F OR E ST ST R AT E GY DR AF T GOAL S & ACT IONS INT E R NAL AND E XT E R NAL ST AKE HOL DE R WOR KSHOPS APR IL 17, 2019

Agenda 1:00 Welcome and Introductions 1:15 Presentation: Urban Forest Strategy: Draft Goals and Actions Spring 2018 Consultation Overview Hamilton UF Baseline Study Draft Goals and Actions to Sustain and Enhance Urban Forest 1:45 Questions 2:00 Mentimeter Activity Prioritize Actions! 2:10 Break 2:20 Planting the Seed - Group Activity Discuss & Update Prioritize Actions! Implementation Opportunities & Challenges 3:20 Next Steps and Closing

Hamilton Urban Forest Strategy Ur ban F or est Str ategy

Hamilton Urban Forest Strategy Spr ing 2018 Sur vey Communicating the value of biodiversity and ecology. Tree maintenance, removal and replacement. Financial incentives and costs associated with trees (including aesthetics). Increase, protect, distribute and prioritize Connectivity between and canopy cover. accessibility to green space. Public education and community outreach. Natural areas, woodlots, parks. The role that trees have in mitigating the impacts of Impacts of new climate change. development and land use. Implementation of the Importance for human Urban Forestry Strategy. health.

Hamilton Urban Forest Strategy Spr ing 2018 Stakeholder Wor kshops • What do you value about Hamilton’s urban forest? shade, air quality, beautification, mental health, diversity, habitat, relaxing • What policies/guidelines would have the most impact? City-wide Private Tree By-law, Public Tree By-law, and Management Standards • What land uses offer the best opportunity to improve urban forest? Open Space • Key Opportunities Identified: partnerships, celebrate trees, By-laws, education, financial incentives, etc.

Hamilton Urban Forest Strategy Spr ing 2018 Public Infor mation Centr e Vision for Hamilton’s Urban Forest: • Multi-layered, naturalized, native trees • Enhanced canopy cover in downtown • Promote Niagara Escarpment • Green neighbourhoods – public/private Value about Hamilton’s Urban Forest: • Nature in the City • Shading and cooling • Better air quality • Escarpment & green, lush views, beauty

Hamilton Urban Forest Strategy Dr aft Vision Statement Hamilton Tree Canopy Goal Hamilton’s Official Plan sets a forest cover target of 30% for the City. • Hamilton’s urban forest is resilient and sustainable. • It contributes to the health and well-being of citizens, and enhances the livability of the City. • The City and all residents value the urban forest as an essential shared asset that should be intentionally planned and maintained for all future generations.

Goal 1: Plan & Ac t

Hamilton Urban Forest Strategy Be ne fits of the Ur ban F or e st • Improves air quality by absorbing pollutants • Cools air temperatures • Regulates stormwater flow and improves water quality • Mitigates climate change impacts • Reduces energy use and carbon dioxide emissions • Supports urban biodiversity • Benefits mental and physical health of residents • Increases property values • Makes cities more beautiful & livable

Hamilton Urban Forest Strategy 2018 iT r ee E c o Study* – Value of UF Benefits in Hamilton • Air Quality Improvements Structural value or estimated cost to • Pollution Removal: 393 metric tons/year ($1.59 million/year) - replace trees within calculated for ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and particulate matter less than 2.5 microns Hamilton’s urban forest: $2.13 billion • Stormwater Management Source: Hamilton • Avoided Runoff: 815 thousand cubic meters/year ($1.896 million/year) • Climate Change Mitigation • Building Energy Savings: $3,630,000/year • Carbon Storage: 395.1 thousand metric tons ($45.4 million) • Carbon Sequestration: 13.41 thousand metric tons ($1.54 million/year) *www.itreetools.org

Source: Hamilton Hamilton Urban Forest Strategy Hamilton’s Ur ban F or est Pr ogr am Str engths • Support for the urban forest in Policy  Hamilton’s Urban Official Plan “environmental systems – land, air and water – that are protected and enhanced”  2016-2025 Strategic Plan - “Hamilton is environmentally sustainable with a healthy balance of natural and urban spaces” • High appreciation for recreation in natural areas – in a visitor survey, natural areas were cited as one of the top tourist draws • Strong non-profit community group engagement, networks and support for tree planting • Established community outreach efforts and education programs (e.g., schools program) • Urban Forestry program capacity meets current management needs with qualified Forestry staff and tree maintenance

Hamilton Urban Forest Strategy Hamilton’s Ur ban F or est Pr ogr am Challenges • Limited tools for private tree protection • High level of invasive species in natural & other land use areas • Planning & development processes do not contain clear requirements for maintaining or establishing trees or tree canopy • Inconsistent support for growing the urban forest • Limited resources (funding) for growing & maintaining the urban tree canopy • Gaps in data & information management tools

Hamilton Urban Forest Strategy Hamilton’s Ur ban F or est Wher e We Stand Percent Tree Cover - Ontario Muncipalities 35 30 28.6 28 28 27.8 Tree cover potential is different for 27 26.6 26 every municipality based on local 25 24 24 24 23 context and policy goals. 21 19 20 18 18 • Hamilton has 21.2% tree cover (2018) 15 • The City’s Official Plan target is 10 30% - based on the minimum amount of forest cover needed to 5 sustain basic watershed function 0

Hamilton Urban Forest Strategy Ur banization • Hamilton is facing urban growth and Change in Land Cover Type: 2006-2017/18 intensification. 50% 46% 42% 45% • Effects on tree canopy - loss of growing 40% 35% space (particularly for large stature/shade 32% 35% trees), challenging site conditions, increased 30% 22% 25% 21% heat island effect, etc. 20% 15% 10% • Urban design can address some of the 5% issues with shrinking growing space under 0% Impervious Pervious Tree/shrub intensification. 2006 2017/18 • Having defined tree cover targets for development can promote good design practices and increase the long-term appeal and livability of neighbourhoods and business areas.

Hamilton Urban Forest Strategy Ur ban F or est Planning T ools UT C and PPA Analysis Automated land cover classifications provide • UTC = Urban Tree Canopy critical planning data for the urban forest • PPA = Potential Planting Area • Land cover classification produces spatial tree cover data at the property level which can be used to:  Identify tree canopy by neighbourhood, ward, watershed, etc. Land cover  Develop land use targets for tree cover  Identify low UTC areas to focus planting efforts (PPA)  To quantify and map available planting area & loss of planting area over time  To detect change in tree and land cover over time Enhanced by LidAR  Other department program activities (e.g. Water, (3D model) Public Health, Climate Change, Public Works, etc.)

Hamilton Urban Forest Strategy Ur ban F or est Planning T ools UT C and PPA Analysis Land cover data allows more detailed planning and prioritization of forest management activities. • Land cover data can be used to do a UTC or PPA analysis • Prioritize planting areas • Land cover data can also be used to Sample priority determine land use targets for tree cover planting areas map by land • Tree canopy mapping was last done in 2009, ownership (red = should be updated high, green = low)

Hamilton Urban Forest Strategy UT C L and Use T ar get Design T ools Agricultural Commercial Vacant Land 3% and Office 16% Industrial 1% • Some land uses have low UTC (e.g., 7% Transportation commercial & industrial areas), to maximize and Utility Institutional benefits from urban forest, many cities: 6% 5% Med/High • set land use targets for UTC to ensure Density more even distribution of tree canopy Residential 4% across the City • Integrate UTC land use targets in development and plan review based on Open Space an assessment of what is Low Dens 36% Residential desirable/feasible in a given land use 22% area. Existing % Tree Cover by Land Use (2018) Source: iTree Eco plots

Hamilton Urban Forest Strategy E xisting Polic y & Planning T ools • Official Plan, Vol. 2, Section B.3.3 Urban Design Policies • Promote environmental sustainability, including protection of existing natural features (e.g. forest) • Street trees in streetscape design (S 3.3.2.10) • Landscaped islands & perimeters in parking areas (S 3.3.10) • City-Wide Corridor Planning and Design Guidelines • Street trees - 3 m wide tree planted perimeter landscape (Site plan guidelines) • The Hamilton Site Plan Guidelines • Street tree & parking lot planting areas • Tree plantings along all property lines & screening loading areas or sensitive areas from more active uses • Tree planting standards