Forest health factors like disease, invasive species, and climate stress control mortality. Death and decay are normal events in the urban forest and create much needed habitat to support biodiversity. However, in urban contexts tree mortality often needs to be managed to reduce risk to public safety and to maintain environmental quality.
Forest health is the outcome of abiotic (environmental) and biotic (living) factors at work in the urban forest. Trees stressed by outcomes of climate change and/or species invasion can be more susceptible to a variety of diseases.
Emerging Diseases
Together with national, provincial and regional agencies, Saanich tracks emerging diseases and pathogens.
- Sooty Bark Disease is emerging disease in Saanich affecting maple trees. Please see here for more information on this disease.