Brampton seeking community feedback on new strategy for City’s urban forest
Published November 3, 2020 at 2:12 pm
The City of Brampton has announced that it is developing its first Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP) that will provide strategic direction to maximize ecological services and benefits of Brampton’s urban forest.
Additionally, it will help identify a vision as well as actions to sustain and enhance the urban forest.
This plan will also explore opportunities including strengthening the current policy and regulatory framework, expanding community engagement programs, undertaking more proactive forest management, working with partners on collaborative tree-establishment and implementing urban forest monitoring.
The UFMP is also part of Brampton’s Grow Green Environmental Master Plan and a key initiative to addressing Brampton’s 2040 Vision and Community Energy and Emissions Reduction Plan (CEERP).
It is also a (CEERP) goal to plant one million trees in Brampton by the year 2040.
Brampton’s urban forest includes all trees and their growing environments on both public and private lands within the City’s boundaries and is a vital green infrastructure with various benefits for the community including environmental, economic, and societal benefits.
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While it does provide certain benefits, the urban forest also faces pressures and challenges such as development and intensification, climate change, diseases and invasive pests.
The 2013 ice storm and the Emerald Ash Borer are among factors in recent years that have damaged many trees in Brampton and required investment in various renewal efforts.
In 2019, the City began working with Urban Forest Innovations Inc. to develop the plan and it is scheduled for completion in 2021.
“Brampton is a Green City and we are committed to protecting our trees, plants and green spaces,” said Mayor Patrick Brown.
“Our urban forest is an integral part of our community, and I encourage all residents to have their say in the future of our trees, as we draft Brampton’s first Urban Forest Management Plan.”
From now until November 30, residents are invited to provide input to help develop the new strategy.
Since the UFMP’s success will partly depend on the support of partners and the community, the city is seeking input in an online survey.
The survey is seeking input from City staff, external organizations, local Indigenous communities, Brampton residents, City Council and other existing or potential partners.
For more information, visit www.brampton.ca/trees.
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