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

Sat Nov 6 05:29:51 EDT 2021

Thanks Julian. All off this is my own experience as well although my practice in NYC was primarily on public land with very large public infrastructure projects. We had made advances in the 2000-2010 decade with excellent specs developed during the Design Phase by knowledgable tree people such as myself that were then supported through the presence of a Consulting Arborist on the Build Phase. Unfortunately, we have recently seen cutbacks and in NYC we are now at a point where Consulting Arborists are no longer a required part of these public projects. Gone is the ability in the Design Phase for the reviewing, editing and authoring of specs that support strategic protection and retention of trees and landscapes that have been designated for protection. Gone is the essential Build Phase oversight. The ability to establish a rigorous Tree / Landscape Protection Zone where access requires advance notice, the presence of a Consulting Arborist and landscape protection in the form of Ground Protection Mats installed over geotextile and wood chip mulch is essential to any and all of these projects and without oversight and tight detailed specifications, this never happens and the landscape and everything in it is trashed.

Here in Luzern, I have found receptive ears to Best Management approaches (new for here) to conserving green space from the onslaught of public spatial development. I have been able to begin the process of changing how these projects are planned and who must be at the table. The understanding that installing conduit within the CRZ of legally protected trees is not an option as the landscape below ground belongs to those trees and since it is also protected, it must be defended. In addition, conduit and pipeline installations are not a one off. There are the endless repairs that continue the abuse to trees through repeated invasions. There has been some willingness to begin the use of GPR prior to any agreements on where and how the lines will be installed which has enabled a real time perspective on the existing root zone. The battles are never easy as Engineers rarely think about the fact that the above ground vertical mass would logically require some kind of horizontal bracing in order to retain structural integrity. Rather, it’s much more an out-of-sight - out-of-mind approach and planners just see space that can be manipulated. GPR outputs add reality to the discussion and loss of structural integrity is something Engineers do understand.

We are presently discussing the implementation of basic knowledge workshops, requiring that all the players must attend. The purpose - to provide a more workable understanding of what makes a tree a tree, what is soil and how both function in association as living organisms. 

Hope springs eternal.

Naomi
Arbor Aegis
Urban Forester / Consulting Arborist
Luzern Switzerland

> On Nov 4, 2021, at 3:25 PM, Julian Dunster via CANUFNET <canufnet at list.web.net> wrote:
> 
> 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.  
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> 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 <http://www.dunster.ca/>
> www.treelaw.info <http://www.treelaw.info/>
> www.rinntech.info <http://www.rinntech.info/>
> On Thu/11/4/2021 10:28 AM, Marie-Paule Godin via CANUFNET wrote:
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>>  <https://url.emailprotection.link/?bUmG75V-9SKxQBnewXK-oXAVbenkKfzdfHWHRztKTOMqOr3s8XWfn1N3mBQcC_KBMRv86E5j55beubZ9dtZX2aC8Kay4BZAdBeW-S5EGkCRdpnZcFpJNwPNnjgFlIL2bknCzB5Ohr0UVz2SZHle_gDqa3FLg0kK26tl2-HY5UYDdQaURH89YdXE0yXUBCjFmQyU8Ted9ENVIwqp0MauoXrC8rEL3YWBBLppZVG4-t3u02BQejx_oh_IwlgKDUSDjQs-UEyuTMzFE--5_-F4TZdvUKSiAy7eGeSSJ9WP-lfJi76VdNTjOlDOAuTxrlGmBns5Tq4sqaVJOFnGh2CJnRhLXIOtJdqILRBFYGm5njfeYiVF4RdlfI6EXbj-aFEDYowVCmNOpa9_fcL1xtaE-zdnIv3KSiXrljEPZxvFf2oAB8QHQQ6MXZq6A4YPL1ijSjLV_IEOUZN6yOb1Sq4Y2HLg~~>
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>> The Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc. (SFI) is  <applewebdata://69E3A0FE-B125-4B60-8AF7-5CE7E86E1F08>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.
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>> “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.”   
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>> 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.  
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>> 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.
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>> “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 1st.
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>> 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~>.
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>> 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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