[CANUFNET] tree protection

[Philip van Wassenaer via CANUFNET]

Thanks Julian,

I think another reality check is how will tree protection be enforced? In
many cases it just simply won't be and after all the nice by-laws and
policies and discussions and reports, permits etc., when the development
starts the "protected" trees get damaged or destroyed...and many many times
with absolutely no penalty to the developer. This is even worse when as we
see in so many cases, the damage is to the trees next door.

So if you intend to develop a tree protection policy that will work, you
have to consider at the front end what your approach to enforcement will be,
understand if you can legally utilize that approach and then plan for
appropriate resources to make that happen.

Philip van Wassenaer
Urban Forest innovations inc.

-----Original Message-----
From: CANUFNET [mailto:canufnet-bounces at list.web.net] On Behalf Of Julian
Dunster via CANUFNET
Sent: January-17-17 11:35 AM
To: canufnet at list.web.net
Subject: Re: [CANUFNET] tree protection

Largely missing from the debate so far is a discussion as to whether or not
the trees are worth saving. I know it is politically correct to save every
tree - Monty Python images of every tree is sacred float into view.  Well
over twenty years ago Jeremy Barrell in the UK floated out the concept of
SULE -

Safe Useful Life Expectancy to deal with this. The first step is to do
decide how much longer the tree has in place in a safe condition with no
disturbance, but allowing for normal weather etc. If it is not long then
scrap it and replant. If it is long then get everyone on board at the
outset. But, as is so often the case, arborists

are not the key players. The planners and other design professionals are.
The engineers, architects, landscape architects, plus the bureaucrats all
have a significant role to play in saving trees effectively and in ensuring
that new plantings will work well. For the latter, how many municipal design
standards pay much heed to Jim Urban's work?

My suspicion is not many. And none of these issues are helped when many
cities do not practice what they preach - something I see all the time where
engineering and parks departments implement work that would attract a stop
work order, a fine, or at least a heated discussion, were such activity to
be found on a private development site.

It's as much a cultural problem as a technical one.

On Behalf of Dunster and Associates Environmental Consultants Ltd.


Dr. Julian A Dunster R.P.F., R.P.P.., M.C.I.P., ISA Certified Arborist, ASCA
Registered Consulting Arborist # 378, ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified BC
Wildlife Danger Tree Assessor Honourary Life Member ISA + PNWISA

North American distributor for Rinntech
www.dunster.ca