[CANUFNET] Evaluating, legislating and managing historically significant trees

[Rena Viehbeck]

Good morning all,

In the City of Thunder Bay I set up the Notable Tree Program about 5 years ago.  This was in lieu of having our trees registered through the Trees Ontario Heritage Tree Program, as there were no evaluators in Thunder Bay to certify trees.  This program sets out to recognize any tree that is of significance to the public.  So far we have not turned down any nomination and we have about 30 trees, or stands of trees in our database.  We advertise for the program on our city web site, at public events and through our City's quarterly program magazine.  We have also done some media on the radio and in our local paper.  In 2015 there was also a  'Tree Tour' in conjunction with 'Safe Cycling' to about 10 different Notable Trees that had approx. 20 participants.
Individuals can nominate private or public trees.  If they are public trees then we make note of their recognition in our tree management system but there is not necessarily any additional protection provided.  We do not regulate private trees in Thunder Bay so the only record of that tree is simply made on our Notable Tree database.  The program is run by me alone and kept up to date as new nominations come in.
You can see more at our web site: http://www.thunderbay.ca/Living/Environment/Urban_Forestry/Recognize_a_Notable_Tree.htm

Our pitch to the public:
The City of Thunder Bay engages the public and increases community awareness about Thunder Bay's valuable urban trees.
Participants can nominate trees or stands of trees within the City limits that they believe are of cultural, historical or biological importance. This program aims to bring attention to community trees and help to protect them.
Notable trees can be on public or permission granted, private land. All nominations will be reviewed prior to being added to the Notable Tree list

Thanks for your interest

Rena Viehbeck
Urban Forest Program Specialist
Parks & Open Spaces Section, Infrastructure and Operations Department
City of Thunder Bay
Victoriaville Civic Centre, 111 Syndicate Ave S., Thunder Bay P7E 6S4
T: (807)625-2956
F: (807)625-3258<tel:%28807%29625-3258>
E: rviehbeck at thunderbay.ca<mailto:rviehbeck at thunderbay.ca>
www.thunderbay.ca/urbanforestry<http://www.thunderbay.ca/urbanforestry>
Connect:  www.facebook.com\urbanforestrytbay<http://www.facebook.com/urbanforestrytbay>


From: CANUFNET [mailto:canufnet-bounces at list.web.net] On Behalf Of Meagan Hanna, Miss
Sent: February-16-16 7:59 PM
To: canufnet at list.web.net
Subject: [CANUFNET] Fw: Evaluating, legislating and managing historically significant trees



Subject: Evaluating, legislating and managing historically significant trees


Hello Friends of the Canadian Urban Forest, and beyond!



I'm looking for some information on how communities have managed their historically significant and interesting trees. I am preparing a summary of initiatives nation-wide which I plan to present in the next couple of months.



I'm fairly familiar with the Ontario Urban Forest Council (OUFC) and Trees Ontario Heritage Tree Program. Less familiar specifically with what Ontario municipalities have done to nominate significant trees and ensure that these trees are managed accordingly. In other words: what are the systems in place to recognize and protect heritage trees? Who is involved/what are their roles? How are your programs performing and are they being kept up?



As far as provinces outside of Ontario go, I am eager to learn more as I am way too ignorant of what is going on beyond the Windsor - Quebec City corridor. I'm looking for anything on legislation, by-laws, programs, tree tours, publicly accessible data, books etc. Any insight or experiences would be cherished at this point, so please feel to write to me if you can at meagan.hanna at mail.mcgill.ca<mailto:meagan.hanna at mail.mcgill.ca> or by all means share on over the listserv!



Thanks so much for your input.





FYI - EXAMPLES FROM QUEBEC



As for Quebec, we do not have any provincially or regionally based legislation or programs for heritage trees. Similarly, we do not have a widely accepted methodology for designating a particular tree as historically significant. Certain municipalities have commemorated individual trees with the help of citizens and community groups. I only know of one municipality (borough of Saint-Leonard, Montreal) that has adopted a municipal by-law for the recognition and protection of "remarkable trees." Nevertheless, only one tree has been named in the last 4 years and a nomination committee has yet to be formed. I have seen other boroughs and cities manage modest online databases of significant trees as well. A couple of French language resources for your information, of which can be translated into English if you use GoogleChrome (right click on pages and select "Translate into English" :



Montreal, inventory of significant trees around Mont-Royal's natural and historic heritage district

http://www1.ville.montreal.qc.ca/siteofficieldumontroyal/inventaires?naturel%5B%5D=515&sommet=All&arrond=All&ensemble=All&periode=All

Quebec City significant trees - community contest with experienced jury

http://www.af2r.org/mise-en-valeur-et-conservation/les-arbres-remarquables-des-monuments-vivants

Quebec City's open access tree inventory data - lists on potentially remarkable trees, these trees have no special legal designation

http://donnees.ville.quebec.qc.ca/donne_details.aspx?jdid=82



City of Granby - interactive map of remarkable trees in the city. Pretty cool idea to manage a few trees.

http://granby.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/?appid=387f221712df4b8bb4edaa6ff0f99459

All the best,

Meg



Meagan Hanna, MA.
meagan.hanna at mail.mcgill.ca<mailto:meagan.hanna at mail.mcgill.ca>
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