Parks, Forestry & Recreation Division Urban Forestry: Our Goals Urban Forestry To have an average Tree Canopy in the City of 35% by 2050. To ensure the sustainability of the urban forest for future generations of citizens of Toronto. Urban Forestry: Who are we? Urban Forestry Structure A branch of the Parks, Forestry & Recreation Division of the City of Toronto. Split into 4 sections by function: Operations all maintenance of City trees. Urban Forest Renewal - Tree Planting, Nursery Operations & Environmental Stewardship. Urban Forestry Policy Tree Protection & Plan Review Protection and Enforcement of Public, Private Trees & Ravines. Forestry Operations North & East Districts Mark Procunier Forestry Operations South & West Districts Dean Hart Director (acting) Jason Doyle Urban Forest Renewal Beth McEwen Urban Forest Policy Beth Sangster Tree Protection & Plan Review Arthur Beauregard 1
Tree Protection & Plan Review Its green! Known around the world as the City of Trees Manager Tree Protection & Plan Review Arthur Beauregard Supervisor Supervisor Supervisor Supervisor Supervisor Etobicoke York North York Toronto East York Scarborough Ravines Peter Dmytrasz Harold Moffat Mark Ventresca Mike McClellan Norman DeFraeye Responsible for the Protection of all Trees through-out the City, Street Trees, Park Trees, Trees on Private Property and Trees in Ravines. Responsible for Urban Forestry comments in various City planning and permitting processes The Urban Forest Profile The City of Toronto has approximately 10.2 million trees (20% forest cover - valued at $7 billion): 3.5 million in parks and other public property Private property contributes approximately 6.1 million trees to the urban forest 0.6 million trees are growing on approximately 5,400 km of streets (i.e., within the public right of way) The Urban Forest Profile Provides $60 million worth of ecological functions every year. Stores 1.1 million metric tonnes of carbon annually (equivalent to 733,000 cars) Improves air quality intercepting 1,430 metric tonnes of air pollutants annually. Reduces energy consumption to heat and cool residences estimated at $9.7 million per year. 2
Toronto Will Grow! The City will grow bigger The GTA is estimated to grow by 2.7 million people and 1.8 million jobs by 2031 (only 20 years!) 20% of this increase (537,000 people) is expected in Toronto Will It Grow Well? Our choices will determine how well the City will grow. Must integrate environmental, social & economic perspectives in decision making Quality of life, future investment & a healthy future are at stake Toronto can be an even better city when we see the connections and understand the consequences of our choices. Front yard parking, paved areas, curb cuts, utility repairs, density of developments, zoning, smaller right of way widths impact negatively on the urban forest. 3
Development and construction often impact negatively on trees. Inadequate tree protection may lead to: Soil compaction and damaged roots. Root loss through excavation. Trunk damage and bark removal. Branch breakage Injury to workers or property. Resultant wounding can lead to: Root and stem decay. Structural damage and instability. The City s Official Plan encourages preserving and enhancing the Urban Forest by: providing suitable growing environments for trees increasing tree canopy coverage and diversity, especially of large growing, long lived, native, shade trees, and regulating the injury and destruction of trees Toronto: Tree By-laws Tree Protection The City s tree protection by-laws are contained within the City s Municipal Code, more specifically: Chapter 813, Trees (Street & Private) Chapter 658, Ravine Protection Chapter 608, Parks Tree diameter is measured 1.4m above the ground. The diameter is used to determine the area to be cordoned off. These tree protection zones are the minimum allowable, larger is better. All paving should allow water to soak through. 4
Tree Protection Zone No change of grade. No excavation or trenching. No storage of soil,construction materials, equipment, waste or debris. No disposal of any liquids. No movement of vehicles or pedestrians. It is a no touch zone. 5
Before After 6
Public Trees All trees of all sizes on the Street Allowance and all trees of all sizes in City Parks are protected. Trees are planted, maintained and removed by City staff or contractors Any work taking place with-in the TPZ of City Trees requires the approval of Urban Forestry. Removal may be requested through a permit application. A replacement planting plan, and payment of the value of the tree removed is normally required. Public Trees Most of such work will require a permit from Right of Way Management or Parks. Pruning of Public Trees requires permission of Urban Forestry. A signed Agreement is required for every location where trees are to be pruned. Public Trees - Security Deposits Based on size, species, and condition of tree. Includes amenity value of tree and removal and replacement costs. Collected before and held during construction, and sometimes after. All or portion of this money can be kept if trees are not protected/damaged/killed/removed. Collected for newly planted trees to ensure trees planted and maintained to City specifications. Private Trees All trees on Private Property 30cm diameter or larger, at 1.4m above grade are protected. A Permit from Urban Forestry is required before any injury or removal takes place. Injury is determined by Urban Forestry. Appropriate tree pruning and maintenance practices are not covered by the bylaw. No permit is required. Inappropriate practices are considered damage and covered as injury. 7
Private Trees - Exemptions Private Trees - Exemptions 100% dead Imminently hazardous Terminally diseased Emergency work Trees on rooftop gardens or in interior courtyards Private Trees - Exemptions Designated Ravines All trees of all sizes, and grades in a Designated Ravine property are protected. A Permit from Urban Forestry is required before any tree injury or removal takes place. The Toronto & Region Conservation Authority regulates the alteration of grade and placement of fill. Any work with-in the drip-line or Ravine TPZ of the tree (whichever is larger) is considered injury. Any landscaping with-in a Designated Ravine requires the prior approval of Urban Forestry. 8
Tree Protection Policy and Specifications for Construction Near Trees Hazardous/ Dead Trees Trees that are hazardous or dead do not require permits to remove. Providing Urban Forestry with pictures to prove the condition, allows U.F. to certify that the condition is true as is required. Direct your email / photos to the appropriate group who would deal with the removal if the tree was healthy. Public Trees: To remove Completed Application form Arborist Report on the tree(s) Payment of $300 per tree processing fee (removal only) Consultation with local City Councillor Payment of loss fee (tree value). Payment - Tree Planting Guarantee Deposit for replacement tree(s) Private: To Remove or Injure Completed application form Arborist Report on the tree(s) Tree Preservation Plan (if applicable) Payment of Processing Fee - $100/tree non-construction - $300/tree construction May require public posting of a notice at the site Consultation with local City Councillor 9
Private Trees: Posting Posting is for 14 days Notice to be visible Comments received are reviewed as part of the submission to the Councillor UF review will take long term consideration into account Ravine: To Remove or Injure Completed application form. Legal Survey and Site Plan Arborist Report on the tree(s), includes tree protection plan. Grading and Drainage Plan Landscape and or Planting Plan. Contact Ravines @ 416-392-1888 or more info - www.toronto.ca/trees/ravines Tree Planting Working towards a diverse Urban Forest built on a solid backbone of native species. No harm in planting rare native species if you can source / grow them and find a spot to plant them. The City of Toronto is going to be planting large numbers of trees for the foreseeable future. There are large parks and natural areas coming on stream throughout the City over the next 20 years, and a massive effort to increase the City s tree canopy cover from the current 20% to ~ 35% by 2050. 10
Trees in hard surfaces require min 15m 3 /tree in groups, min 30m 3 trees by themselves. 11
Contact the City of Toronto via 311 or 311@toronto.ca To request an inspection or give information Please leave your Name, Address, Concern and a contact number with the Clerk. Allow at least 4 weeks for a routine inspection. For more information www.toronto.ca/trees 12