Saanich Parks manages trees located on Public and Private Property. The public trees are located in 160 park properties covering over 750 hectares and on approximately 580 kilometers of urban and rural street boulevards and medians. Saanich Parks also protects indigenous trees and natural plant communities on private lands through a Tree Preservation Bylaw.

Urban Forest Strategy

On November 1, 2010, Council adopted the Urban Forest Strategy for Saanich

The Urban Forest Strategy provides a long–term plan for achieving a sustainable urban forest in Saanich. It is one of the tools that Council, staff and the community will be able to use in conjunction with the Sustainable Saanich Official Community Plan 2008 (OCP), Saanich Strategic Plan 2010 and other municipal bylaws, plans, policies and/or initiatives.

The Saanich Urban Forest Vision is:

“The urban forest in Saanich is a highly valued asset comprised of a rich and diverse forest that is widely recognized and appreciated for the contribution that it makes to our community and to our sustainable environment.”

The goal is:

“Protect and Enhance the Urban Forest”

The seven Strategies are:

• Grow the Urban Forest Canopy,
• Amend the Tree Preservation Bylaw,
• Develop Urban Forest Guidelines,
• Integrate the Strategy with other Saanich & Regional Initiatives,
• Inventory the Urban Forest,
• Develop an Urban Forest Operations Program, and
• Engage the Community.

The implementation of the Urban Forest Strategy will be referred to in Strategic and Departmental Plans as well as the budget review process.

In 2011, Saanich will: measure the urban forest canopy and set canopy cover targets based on the typologies listed in the UFS; engage the community in a public process to amend the Tree Preservation Bylaw; and develop and implement design guidelines.

The Urban Forest Strategy and October 18, 2010 Parks and Recreation Department report are available below:

Parks and Recreation Report

Urban Forest Strategy

In person – Legislative Division at the Saanich Municipal Hall or the Parks Division front counter at 1040 McKenzie Avenue.
By mail – contact the Legislative Division 250-475-1775 or Parks Division at 250-475-5522

Related Links

Urban Forest Stewardship Initiative
Saanich Tree Preservation Bylaw No. 7632

Urban Forest Strategy Background

Background

Saanich Parks manages trees located on Public and Private Property. The public trees are located in 160 park properties covering over 750 hectares and on approximately 580 kilometers of urban and rural street boulevards and medians. Saanich Parks also protects indigenous trees and natural plant communities on private lands through a Tree Preservation Bylaw. This work is conducted through the Parks Division of the Parks and Recreation Department.

Purpose

To develop an Urban Forest Strategy that retains where possible existing tree cover, promotes additional tree planting, and acknowledges the importance of contiguous canopy cover. It should address the retention and planting trees in boulevards, parks other municipal lands as well as private lands, to expand the urban forest and act as mitigation in regards to climate change. It should promote and encourage the protection and designation of indigenous, significant and wildlife trees. It must also include a review and recommend amendments to the Tree Preservation Bylaw.

The Urban Forest Strategy will recommend direction and actions that will allow Saanich to optimize the benefits of it urban forest by envisioning and enabling an integrated and sustainable approach to preserving trees and enhancing Saanich's Urban Forest.

Some of the project objectives are:

• Align Urban Forest Strategy with the Official Community Plan and Saanich 2008-2012 Strategic Plan;
• Develop, with community input, a vision for the Urban Forest for Saanich for the period up to and including 2025;
• Consult with the community, parks users, and Saanich staff regarding Saanich's urban forest management program;
• Conduct a review of the current urban forest program including documents, bylaws, policies, resources, priorities, successes and service gaps;
• Develop and introduce policies and programs that ensures development policies and practices continue to be compatible with serving the community, the economy and the environment;
• Develop an inventory of and strategies for urban forest management issues in Saanich
• Develop canopy cover benchmarks;
• Identify an action plan of the Urban Forest Strategy priorities for 2009 - 2015.

The Consultant

E. Lees & Associates and Consulting Ltd. has been selected to work with Saanich Parks to develop an Urban Forest Strategy. Over the next two months Erik's team will be engaging staff, Council Committees and Neighbourhood Associations, seeking their input on the Urban Forest.

Urban Forest Strategy Open House

The District of Saanich is developing an Urban Forest Strategy through consultation of Staff, Council, stakeholders and the community. The Strategy will be a long-term plan for the management of all trees and their associated growing environments within the District - both in the Urban Containment Boundary and in Rural Saanich. It will take a holistic approach to the care of all trees (native and non), the protection of what exists, and planning for new plantings. Major considerations in the development of the Strategy will include topics specific to Saanich such as the preservation of the Garry Oak Ecosystem, invasive and environmental concern.

We gathered feedback on the ideas and suggestions presented at our Open House on June 11, 2009, we asked that you view the Powerpoint Presentation and the Display Panels and provide feedback through our questionnaire. Our survey is now complete, but the display panels are viewable below.

Open House Display Panels

• Panel 1
• Panel 2
• Panel 3
• Panel 4
• Panel 5
• Panel 6
• Panel 7