[CANUFNET] Urban Forest Funding

[Timea Filer]

Hello,
Although I can't speak for anyone else specifically, there are quite a few municipalities that are including natural assets and specifically trees and / or forests in their corporate asset management plans. I can speak for Guelph when I say that we are in the process of developing a natural asset management plan and then ultimately incorporating this as green infrastructure assets into the corporate asset plan, life cycle costing, and risk management  - in the context of climate change. Our asset management plan supports the City's Strategic plan as well as meeting regulations for Asset Management Planning for Municipal Infrastructure (O.Reg 588/17). Information can be found at https://guelph.ca/2020/10/corporate-asset-management-plan-uses-data-to-focus-funding-on-priority-items/ .  Additionally, our urban forest management plan and funding, which is supported by Council, includes the recognition of the urban forest as a green infrastructure asset with associated value (e.g., ecological services, replacement value).

Good luck,
Timea

Timea Filer, R.P.F. | Urban Forestry Field Technologist 
Parks, Public Services

City of Guelph
T 519-822-1260 x 3352 | F 519-821-0839
E timea.filer at guelph.ca 
guelph.ca
Facebook.com/cityofguelph
@cityofguelph


-----Original Message-----
From: CANUFNET <canufnet-bounces at list.web.net> On Behalf Of ebuffie--- via CANUFNET
Sent: Wednesday, December 16, 2020 12:49 PM
To: canufnet at list.web.net
Cc: ebuffie at mymts.net
Subject: [CANUFNET] Urban Forest Funding

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Hi Everyone,

My name is Erna Buffie, I’m a science and nature documentary filmmaker for The Nature of Things and I’m also a member of an advocacy group here in Winnipeg called The Trees Please Coalition. We represent residents’ groups from across the city that are concerned about the current and emerging threats facing our own urban forest and others across the country, and the problem of chronic underfunding for Urban Forestry. We’re in the process of formulating a lobbying effort aimed at encouraging governments to classify urban forests as natural capital assets based, include them in asset management plans and make them eligible for infrastructure funding, especially those federal infrastructure funding programs aimed at cities and municipalities.

Do any of you know of any similar efforts being made by other organizations in other areas of the country? And Is this something you or your organization might be interested in supporting? I know, for example, that Green Infrastructure Ontario is lobbying for a more general natural infrastructure funding stream at the national level, but I don’t know of any other efforts being made.

Any information or support you might be able to provide would be welcome!

Many Thanks,

Erna

Erna Buffie
Trees Please Coalition
Winnipeg, MB

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