Latest news with #canopycover
BBC News
03-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Newport: Quarter of Welsh city to be covered by 'urban forest'
A quarter of a Welsh city will be covered by tree canopies within 10 years due to a new plan to boost its "urban forest". Almost 30,000 trees will be planted in Newport to supplement about 250,000 existing trees. Wales was the first country in the world to measure its urban tree council hopes these trees and others planted by private developers and landowners will take canopy cover in Newport - which at 18% had the highest proportion of any Welsh city in 2016 - to 25%. Joanne Gossage, service manager for environment and leisure at Newport council said the city had "green oasis" said: "We feel that Newport is a very green city and we don't think it's too far of a stretch to get to that 25%."People's perception of an urban forest is something dark, perhaps menacing and dingy. It's not. It's about trees making attractive frameworks in limited open space, it can be in a street, creating a good shady habitat above people's heads."The economic benefit of planting green infrastructure has a direct link to people wanting to be in a place - to live, for recreation or to visit." Using nationwide aerial photography, canopy spread in Wales was mapped across towns and cities, with the results published in 2016. Natural Resources Wales found Newport had 18% canopy cover, compared with 17.4% in both Swansea and Wrexham, and 15.4% in Cardiff. Newport alone estimates its current urban forest is worth £2.2m a year to the city and stores 76,000 tonnes of council said it would grow trees on its own land, but hoped private developers and landowners would do the same to add to the city's canopy cover. Newport resident Daniel Key, 37, said "it would be lush" to have a quarter of the city covered by canopies. He said: "It's a really built up city, quite run down at the moment, with a lot of boarded up houses and businesses gone, it's very much a car city, it would be nice to have more trees, for cleaner air."As long as they're thinking about jobs as well, locally, I'll be all for it." Some of the most important green infrastructure are street trees, which Ms Gossage said acted like a "green lung above people's heads".More than a third of all the trees in the city are in residential areas, with the most common species being Leyland cypress, birch and Gossage said increasing canopy cover would have a cooling effect, help prevent flooding, improve biodiversity and help people's health and said: "We are making this happen with very small resources internally."We are not having a big ask on the council's budge because we are being inventive and adventurous, looking for money outside of our own budget."
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Vancouver's new urban forest strategy faces challenges, academic says
Vancouver councillors have approved an updated plan for growing the city's urban forest, but a forestry professor says there are challenges ahead. The city's goal is to increase its canopy cover – how much of the city is covered by leaves and branches when seen from above – from about 25 per cent of the city to 30 per cent by 2050, according to theupdated urban forest strategy. The plan sets a target to plant about 165,000 new trees over the next 25 years, and encourages residents to plant trees in their own backyards. And while the plan has drawn praise from one expert, both city councillors and staff have acknowledged there will be difficulties in meeting the goals set out in the report. Stephen Sheppard, a professor emeritus at the University of B.C.'s forestry faculty, said Vancouver's 30 per cent canopy cover target is very achievable – but he noted there is cause for concern. "There are a lot of threats to this," he said. In the wake of the B.C. government pushing hard for cities to increase housing density, Sheppard advised councillors to minimize the loss of existing urban trees when approving rezoning proposals. "It would make sense to provide strong guidelines on how to protect and manage and include trees into these densification projects," Sheppard said. "We could be increasing the height, but reducing the floor space that the buildings take up and saving that root space for trees. That's really important."The professor says that the city needs to set clear targets and put out stronger messaging to incentivize private property owners to plant trees and care for them, adding that trees can help cool down neighbourhoods and reduce climate change impacts. "Planting programs for front and back yards that encourages and educates people about what the benefits are, what the right tree might be for them — a lot more effort has to go into that to make it feasible," he said. Sheppard said the 30 per cent target is the minimum required. "Forty per cent is like the gold standard – but that might be difficult in Vancouver," he said. Both Metro Vancouver and Toronto have a 40 per cent target by 2050, while Seattle's goal is 30 per cent canopy cover by 2037, according to the city staff presentation. Coun. Sarah Kirby-Yung said the 30 per cent goal by 2050 seemed far away. "I do want to encourage us to … be realistic about the challenge in delivering on that goal, but be a bit more aggressive," she said. Joe McLeod, the city's associate director of urban forestry, said the plan has a variety of benefits, including improving wildlife habitat and residents' health. "There's also evidence to suggest that people's willingness to spend in retail districts with robust urban forests is increased," he told council. But the official acknowledged the last five per cent of the 30 per cent goal is going to be harder to make happen. "The cream has been skimmed off the top, so to speak," he said, saying that from 2010 to 2020, the city had capitalized on all of the inexpensive tree-planting spots. "Now we're getting into the harder to reach areas," McLeod added. He noted one of the challenges to planting new trees in areas like the Downtown Eastside, which lack tree canopy, is the cost of creating new tree pits, which can cost between $15,000 and $20,000 each. "It is a costly endeavour, but it improves the public realm and obviously provides great benefits to the community," McLeod said. Multiple councillors pointed out the stark divide in canopy cover between neighbourhoods. Shaughnessy has 41 per cent tree canopy cover, while Strathcona — which includes the Downtown Eastside — has only nine per cent. The difference can be particularly significant during heat waves, according to the staff report, which says that vulnerable populations in low canopy areas faced a higher risk of heat-related deaths. Coun. Mike Klassen asked staff to explore how to reduce urban heat islands in neighbourhoods with minimal tree canopy cover, including a "GreenShades" system that suspends large sails with planted greenery over streets. The updated urban forest strategy passed unanimously with Klassen's amendment.
CBC
26-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Vancouver's new urban forest strategy faces challenges, academic says
The city wants to increase tree coverage by 5% in 25 years, but development pressures could cause challenges Caption: Trees are pictured in the West End neighbourhood of Vancouver. The city has approved an ambitious new urban forest strategy, but a forestry professor says it faces hurdles. (Ben Nelms/CBC) Vancouver councillors have approved an updated plan for growing the city's urban forest, but a forestry professor says there are challenges ahead. The city's goal is to increase its canopy cover – how much of the city is covered by leaves and branches when seen from above – from about 25 per cent of the city to 30 per cent by 2050, according to the updated urban forest strategy. The plan sets a target to plant about 165,000 new trees over the next 25 years, and encourages residents to plant trees in their own backyards. And while the plan has drawn praise from one expert, both city councillors and staff have acknowledged there will be difficulties in meeting the goals set out in the report. Stephen Sheppard, a professor emeritus at the University of B.C.'s forestry faculty, said Vancouver's 30 per cent canopy cover target is very achievable – but he noted there is cause for concern. "There are a lot of threats to this," he said. In the wake of the B.C. government pushing hard for cities to increase housing density, Sheppard advised councillors to minimize the loss of existing urban trees when approving rezoning proposals. "It would make sense to provide strong guidelines on how to protect and manage and include trees into these densification projects," Sheppard said. "We could be increasing the height, but reducing the floor space that the buildings take up and saving that root space for trees. That's really important." The professor says that the city needs to set clear targets and put out stronger messaging to incentivize private property owners to plant trees and care for them, adding that trees can help cool down neighbourhoods and reduce climate change impacts. "Planting programs for front and back yards that encourages and educates people about what the benefits are, what the right tree might be for them — a lot more effort has to go into that to make it feasible," he said. Urban development and trees Sheppard said the 30 per cent target is the minimum required. "Forty per cent is like the gold standard – but that might be difficult in Vancouver," he said. Both Metro Vancouver and Toronto have a 40 per cent target by 2050, while Seattle's goal is 30 per cent canopy cover by 2037, according to the city staff presentation. Coun. Sarah Kirby-Yung said the 30 per cent goal by 2050 seemed far away. "I do want to encourage us to … be realistic about the challenge in delivering on that goal, but be a bit more aggressive," she said. City challenges Joe McLeod, the city's associate director of urban forestry, said the plan has a variety of benefits, including improving wildlife habitat and residents' health. "There's also evidence to suggest that people's willingness to spend in retail districts with robust urban forests is increased," he told council. But the official acknowledged the last five per cent of the 30 per cent goal is going to be harder to make happen. "The cream has been skimmed off the top, so to speak," he said, saying that from 2010 to 2020, the city had capitalized on all of the inexpensive tree-planting spots. "Now we're getting into the harder to reach areas," McLeod added. He noted one of the challenges to planting new trees in areas like the Downtown Eastside, which lack tree canopy, is the cost of creating new tree pits, which can cost between $15,000 and $20,000 each. "It is a costly endeavour, but it improves the public realm and obviously provides great benefits to the community," McLeod said. Equity issues Multiple councillors pointed out the stark divide in canopy cover between neighbourhoods. Shaughnessy has 41 per cent tree canopy cover, while Strathcona — which includes the Downtown Eastside — has only nine per cent. The difference can be particularly significant during heat waves, according to the staff report, which says that vulnerable populations in low canopy areas faced a higher risk of heat-related deaths. Coun. Mike Klassen asked staff to explore how to reduce urban heat islands in neighbourhoods with minimal tree canopy cover, including a "GreenShades" system that suspends large sails with planted greenery over streets.
CBC
26-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Vancouver's new urban forest strategy faces challenges, professor says
Social Sharing Vancouver councillors have approved an updated plan for growing the city's urban forest, but a forestry professor says there are challenges ahead. The city's goal is to increase its canopy cover – how much of the city is covered by leaves and branches when seen from above – from about 25 per cent of the city to 30 per cent by 2050, according to the updated urban forest strategy. The plan sets a target to plant about 165,000 new trees over the next 25 years, and encourages residents to plant trees in their own backyards. And while the plan has drawn praise from one expert, both city councillors and staff have acknowledged there will be difficulties in meeting the goals set out in the report. Stephen Sheppard, a professor emeritus at the University of B.C.'s forestry faculty, said Vancouver's 30 per cent canopy cover target is very achievable – but he noted there is cause for concern. "There are a lot of threats to this," he said. In the wake of the B.C. government pushing hard for cities to increase housing density, Sheppard advised councillors to minimize the loss of existing urban trees when approving rezoning proposals. "It would make sense to provide strong guidelines on how to protect and manage and include trees into these densification projects," Sheppard said. "We could be increasing the height, but reducing the floor space that the buildings take up and saving that root space for trees. That's really important." WATCH | City of Vancouver wants residents to adopt trees: City of Vancouver encourages residents to adopt a tree 9 months ago Duration 7:53 Don Morrison from the city's park board says that the Adopt a Tree program is intended to help residents be more mindful and help steward the city's tree canopy. The professor says that the city needs to set clear targets and put out stronger messaging to incentivize private property owners to plant trees and care for them, adding that trees can help cool down neighbourhoods and reduce climate change impacts. "Planting programs for front and back yards that encourages and educates people about what the benefits are, what the right tree might be for them — a lot more effort has to go into that to make it feasible," he said. Urban development and trees Sheppard said the 30 per cent target is the minimum required. "Forty per cent is like the gold standard – but that might be difficult in Vancouver," he said. Both Metro Vancouver and Toronto have a 40 per cent target by 2050, while Seattle's goal is 30 per cent canopy cover by 2037, according to the city staff presentation. Coun. Sarah Kirby-Yung said the 30 per cent goal by 2050 seemed far away. "I do want to encourage us to … be realistic about the challenge in delivering on that goal, but be a bit more aggressive," she said. City challenges Joe McLeod, the city's associate director of urban forestry, said the plan has a variety of benefits, including improving wildlife habitat and residents' health. "There's also evidence to suggest that people's willingness to spend in retail districts with robust urban forests is increased," he told council. But the official acknowledged the last five per cent of the 30 per cent goal is going to be harder to make happen. "The cream has been skimmed off the top, so to speak," he said, saying that from 2010 to 2020, the city had capitalized on all of the inexpensive tree-planting spots. "Now we're getting into the harder to reach areas," McLeod added. He noted one of the challenges to planting new trees in areas like the Downtown Eastside, which lack tree canopy, is the cost of creating new tree pits, which can cost between $15,000 and $20,000 each. "It is a costly endeavour, but it improves the public realm and obviously provides great benefits to the community," McLeod said. Equity issues Multiple councillors pointed out the stark divide in canopy cover between neighbourhoods. Shaughnessy has 41 per cent tree canopy cover, while Strathcona — which includes the Downtown Eastside — has only nine per cent. The difference can be particularly significant during heat waves, according to the staff report, which says that vulnerable populations in low canopy areas faced a higher risk of heat-related deaths. Coun. Mike Klassen asked staff to explore how to reduce urban heat islands in neighbourhoods with minimal tree canopy cover, including a "GreenShades" system that suspends large sails with planted greenery over streets.
