[CANUFNET] New SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard - 1st Public Comment Period

Thu Nov 4 15:25:47 EDT 2021

The concepts are all good and in an ideal world it would make a big 
difference. But......week in week out I work on developments where the 
developers are often given an endless run around  about tree protection, 
even when really good management plans are in place. Costs rise, 
politics intervenes and in some cases the trees are not worth retaining 
in the first place. Very few municipalities come anywhere near 
accomplishing their urban forest potential because the engineering and 
planning departments know very little about trees and often care even 
less. As a result, opportunities to retain trees that would keep 
providing benefits are lost in the quest to, for example, widen all 
sidewalks, and install new bike lanes, or allow new development to go 
closer and closer to the edges of an individual city lot in order to 
maximise floor space. Worse yet very few municipalities apply the 
demanding specifications seen for private land to their own public lands 
and street trees. They do not practice what they preach. They do not 
lead by example.

Until we get a really profound change in the planning and engineering 
attitudes towards trees not much will change. If we have to remove a 
large tree, we should save the landbase and designate it as a space to 
grow a new large tree. Instead we add the landbase freed up  to the 
development potential and then plop a tiny lollipop tree in in the 
meagre amounts of space left over after the design professionals have 
put their grand visions onto paper.

If we really want to improve the urban forest then we have to change 
design standards and attitudes in general. After more than 30 years in 
the business it really is sad to see that we have not made much progress 
retaining trees or creating good places for new trees to grow more than 
just a decade or two before they die. Yes, we now have lots of certified 
arborists, we have degree programmes  in urban forestry, and the need 
for urban forestry is gaining steam. Many places have urban forest plans 
and canopy cover targets. So what? Far fewer have planning and 
engineering departments that are on the ball and actively work at the 
design stage to facilitate creation of spaces with the correct amount of 
space to grow above and below ground.  The fine looking urban forest 
plans do not accomplish their potential. They can't because other 
aspects (grey infrastructure) are considered to be more important.

These are points that need to be far better understood. Success will be 
defined by the design professions, not the urban foresters and 
arborists. We are but the messengers trying to be heard and so far, it 
is not at all clear that the message is making that much difference on 
the ground.

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
Honourary Life Member ISA + PNWISA

North American distributor for Rinntech
www.dunster.ca
www.treelaw.info
www.rinntech.info

On Thu/11/4/2021 10:28 AM, Marie-Paule Godin via CANUFNET wrote:
>
> <https://url.emailprotection.link/?bUmG75V-9SKxQBnewXK-oXAVbenkKfzdfHWHRztKTOMqOr3s8XWfn1N3mBQcC_KBMRv86E5j55beubZ9dtZX2aC8Kay4BZAdBeW-S5EGkCRdpnZcFpJNwPNnjgFlIL2bknCzB5Ohr0UVz2SZHle_gDqa3FLg0kK26tl2-HY5UYDdQaURH89YdXE0yXUBCjFmQyU8Ted9ENVIwqp0MauoXrC8rEL3YWBBLppZVG4-t3u02BQejx_oh_IwlgKDUSDjQs-UEyuTMzFE--5_-F4TZdvUKSiAy7eGeSSJ9WP-lfJi76VdNTjOlDOAuTxrlGmBns5Tq4sqaVJOFnGh2CJnRhLXIOtJdqILRBFYGm5njfeYiVF4RdlfI6EXbj-aFEDYowVCmNOpa9_fcL1xtaE-zdnIv3KSiXrljEPZxvFf2oAB8QHQQ6MXZq6A4YPL1ijSjLV_IEOUZN6yOb1Sq4Y2HLg~~>
>
>
> *The Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc. (SFI) is *pleased to 
> announce the first public comment period of a new *SFI Urban and 
> Community Forest Sustainability Standard* 
> <https://url.emailprotection.link/?b78mTjdo300b9QXrzhSyVsIgBB4mA4SpgdYNTeXUKBWQk6I6RjU75vyGkbicT8gDnpeK6gdPU10gF3JSnMiWkG9dkwnILv0moo8ka42f743pdm0NWr1feQkqHZ3Tppk-qGMeO7BBdbLAFZQulOuh4qPJbmHqgvRQVCjf7C0lyfzkcJuOBicvgqfe7CGFIOiptoTH0x96yvFuKhxb2zuMEj_JxVfNPXkV5Nc1iZTty-TExPA1uOY6fS1dVgBhvMdPKMU0g1iLsrKW4Gfflj4hkcEkuCKdLa3XmTTJrvRZ_bc3-vOXXw4tdhLktwe_bCPOGdGKSBBRPyr0S74EU6LGAOZ9CsKrWRAV4WlHBknEOcRFUKyVBnLQ-ASoWhWgFoAbndHFzFulkeMmaTQy0A_0PmPABOixqfaPICz_-hagDFFOrdNv03yftqMPsCHXqis69L2qy4h9BQNrhkKPFMA7e1JbVaFT5wvz4m7EnRasE9AB9L7o-U2E95nGBFB9l5crZEBqy5DcoVabKx1-_t7H8Uivd5zQAdz7ymQVW0BTXyEJZGvgQGlbgMySVP7tGBj24FUZ2Cmq_6v_0-vw6hgvmAQ~~>. 
> SFI has collaborated with more than *twenty-five urban forestry 
> leaders* 
> <https://url.emailprotection.link/?bipoy_bjLMsziZEaqM-M4EAn1d5KL5hPE7gRlxErVA8AldOS7CMp5oNKGa3TbOY0ViXsnUieTnJVhdHd8ILwsa9cd0KqBM77u65rhCkbio3i5G8PbeB3c9qnoTMUbniulieyW__PyMuX4DNoTZrbEwFcO150hPok1fVmdpKkO4oqohgmhXcsZaU4eV84xhN1jGvmbfvbLw2uH8xHLTpYW0eDAXP38FcYVxnJD0LePMP3S3lxfsIa2XWozYvjumFKTee1wFk0sXa-wcn9j73MCdcRTbLW71eMlTIODSedXaR16mhjz94eNhyyIu-Mq_IpwiJgTlCNKyVakaFgt90Y0XTmnu8qu7ASLo_vmGCmLqNUYq7D1o1Mht6yCvdV2OIVmgMQlY9DwGxCVU9TiDANCx5qISCZTvsDUy1SvSiFIAlaqySmJ-BuyBy_TTYbu_eB9I5zrihoROMtMQM5FtiOwMhCkzP9yRYTIdUtcNuLAs_ff1z3nNFD7cF6SN8dPfkIA>, 
> including representatives from: American Forests, Arbor Day 
> Foundation, the International Society of Arboriculture, the Society of 
> Municipal Arborists, and Tree Canada to create this first draft.
>
> “Urban and community forests are vital for our planet’s future,” says 
> Paul Johnson, SFI’s Director of Urban and Community Forestry. “Working 
> with an amazing and dedicated group of volunteers, we’ve created a 
> roadmap for more sustainable urban forests and therefore more 
> sustainable communities.”
>
> Community trees and forests provide many social and environmental 
> benefits including improved health and well-being, social cohesion and 
> accessibility, outdoor learning environments, climate change 
> solutions, reduced air pollution, and improved urban design. Caring 
> for and maintaining those forests and trees maximizes the positives 
> and minimizes the risks.
>
> The new standard has been built on 5 Principles:
>
> ·*Urban forests and trees* are vital for community well-being, health, 
> resiliency, and sustainability.
>
> ·*Urban forests and trees* require proper planning, care, and 
> management to optimize benefits and minimize risks.
>
> ·*Urban forests and trees* depend upon understanding, awareness, 
> appreciation, and engagement from people to thrive in communities.
>
> ·*Urban forests and trees* and their associated benefits should be 
> accessible and available to all.
>
> ·*Urban forests and trees* are nature-based solutions to pressing 
> issues and essential green infrastructure.
>
> “Diversity of trees is key for our urban forests and diversity is key 
> to developing a standard,” says Johnson. “Our development task group 
> represents many segments of urban and community forestry, and this 
> comment process will help us further diversify our standard and 
> increase its positive impact.”  Please review the proposed first draft 
> and give us your feedback by December 1^st .
>
> To view the draft standard click *here* 
> <https://url.emailprotection.link/?bjnYaScbCi_31_pJQGP6qks6aQfd_B3dbwtH7OwxSrO2BJg16MzAYg4TIHOXgmcBv-ISrJNfOO0LQ-bxS8v56kYUuX29Gus8v0YCFDtLWeMIETgiVUz9-qv-aPbBBnQc-Eq6yd-usu2SFEmgiooQvPCkc62zYoad3MB3-lEpScg5GrqsdVam91hbp7IuYU3be4XeNQaV2ts3zbQ0Jl2k56qtrOYpRllFxXWCetKTCwYpp6fHXNWqWxTDtkpmG0GJS3ANtWt_N1EG3CsYA9mgwHyhYHRc_0BQC9PXWHw54dYFUAFmyc-BqaKTvZWMKQwAUs3mJdZF8UnjLEopXMbzz5hcpjNKIV7qYpvv42emMANrNKDqurYpIqDf_uDBWmdRr-bNz2vNFPymW2RpFMvRvYdS9lIRq3rRfGKvUc2nc0gJ86JDvR-bsFgadf0WQeYDuhHVT0COCQLfnmy5dhqJyJ-zklaVcgmzFH2Neq6YIrheuPVbQZfx3yBmSofPNxtRYcQ4RtcSMA3d43fGv7hCOCuHIauXUEvMDUdMQleSqcYw~>.
>
> To submit comments click *here* 
> <https://url.emailprotection.link/?bAGKGR9SZGqojhnWCon1xXEhc98WrBMNeGI0SDlP3pe4rTTQQZoq4UJ3ubAtRHfp8r3PTU9NztqnrNtPs5sRq1q36dTYYU5WeZTR47OmYrELN5dBh77zaxmWyBUvDlJ9ISj6p0YTO_185FBqizI-HeUeqX6ERSq2IFNYj8fXSDIvYYUgW8hvfQyHEmTG8s54o1p1nv27Pd1tPVnNP9Dos3u7bhzC3ICWu55ku1MPOuxpWmZI3lXIYDy_d2T0A_r_J07HqwtN9uix9Rt32aUvfvC9vYzj5ojAeM7qqrIdF15m5t4LszcsaILpNOV_OaUNOf--Hz1_6DWPMGmB-BSrx1yxvvlLT8-td5eByIotzbGsH5k5YgQgQmx7rtDA4HFF4PkJbD0nk0TGLJ8O41heSmcy4S0OIqzFCmpWqVHX68jE~>.
>
> Reach out to *Paul Johnson* <mailto:paul.johnson at forests.org>, 
> Director of Urban and Community Forestry, if you have any questions.
>
>
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>
> SFI Inc.| ****Canada Office: 1306 Wellington Street West, Suite 400 
> Ottawa, ON K1Y 3B2 ****, U.S. Office: 2121 K Street NW Suite 750, 
> Washington, DC 20037
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