[CANUFNET] Heritage Trees

[Elaine Ethier]

Hello, let’s interact with the University of Montreal Research Institute of Plant Biology. A 120 year old black walnut was designated officially as a remarkable tree owned by the Town of Hudson who has not yet documented it. Scottish immigrants back in 18th century brought remarkable tree seeds and nuts in many anglophone communities. Will get you the info. Also got a Pressler sound brought in from 🇩🇰 for proofing the age of the tree which would not let us take it out bringing all its weight onto the tool.

Envoyé de mon iPhone

Le 17 avr. 2024 à 16:04, Mark Carroll <environment1st at rogers.com> a écrit :


Hi Elaine

You gave me a great idea!!!!
A designation of "Remarkable Trees".

Would this not be a great designation for municipalities to have to set presidents. A "Remarkable Tree Designation" for those trees that do not have a Heritage Designation on them. A tree special to the community.

We now just need the wording to go along with this designation.

I am putting this out there right now. I need wording or suggestions for a "Remarkable Tree Designation".

I am going to start this,


Remarkable Tree Designation

This certificate proudly designates [Tree Name/Location] as a Remarkable Tree within our community. While not bound by age, these trees hold profound significance, embodying the essence of our natural heritage and serving as steadfast witnesses to the passage of time.

With their towering presence or graceful canopy, these remarkable specimens enrich our landscape, offering shade, shelter, and solace to all who encounter them. Their branches reach out like embracing arms, fostering a sense of belonging and interconnectedness among residents and visitors alike.

Beyond their botanical beauty, these trees harbor stories of resilience, perseverance, and adaptation. They have weathered storms, witnessed celebrations, and silently stood witness to the unfolding narrative of our community.

As stewards of our environment, we recognize the invaluable role these trees play in purifying our air, mitigating climate change, and providing habitat for countless species of flora and fauna.

May this designation serve as a testament to the enduring legacy of [Tree Name/Location], inspiring future generations to cherish, protect, and celebrate our natural heritage.

This may be the start of a whole new designation for trees in our neighbourhoods.
Thanks Elaine

We also need to lay out the process of this designation...There needs to be a good reason to have the designation attached to the tree.
, such as paragraph 2 in my suggestion.

Thanks all

Mark Carroll
ISA Certified Arborist
Certified Soil Biologist
Municipal Consultant

Dirt to Soil Inc.
Biological Solutions to Growing and Caring For Plants

Where the Symphony of Soil Health Resonates. Join us on a journey to revive the earth beneath your feet, embracing a regenerative dance with nature. Through our innovative biological solutions, we breathe life back into the soil naturally. Together, lets revive and nurture vibrant ecosystems where plants thrive naturally!



On Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 11:27:33 a.m. EDT, Elaine Ethier via CANUFNET <canufnet at list.web.net> wrote:


Hello,
 I have evaluated a red oak in the western part of Laval on the North shore of Montreal,  the tree is still standing on a small private property on or about 2 m from the drip line and limit, this oak is about 75 years old, has no breakage, there is a high water table as it sits in between two rivers nevertheless a neighbour thought it was disturbing with all the falling leaves and small broken branches eaten away by squirrels for the last seasonal acorns. It became litigious, a legal case…  the neighbour sent lawyer legal Quebec law summoning owners to cut, trim, or take down deciduous trees nearing fences, even if away from the housing or dependencies. to my client the city of Laval could not provide a status quo for that red oak. I surveyed 4 km radius and found one juvenile oak planted by a residential owner. Took @ lawer, wrote to the offended neighbor, went to the the urban planning, met with arborist in charge to issue a heritage protection plan for remarkable trees for that tree and guess what? Three years later, there is no register of privately owned remarkable trees for the sector. Neither in Hudson Qc, a heritage town along the lake of Two Mountains, part of the Ottawa River.



Elaine Ethier
Consultante
Milieu de vie - foresterie urbaine

Le 16 avr. 2024 à 13:14, Alex Satel - UFI via CANUFNET <canufnet at list.web.net> a écrit :



Hi Mark,



Interesting question.



Just off the top of my head, I can’t recall any Ontario municipalities with a standalone “heritage tree by-law” except for the Town of Gananoque (By-law 2006-03), but it’s fairly weak and gives private landowners “the final say” when it comes to removal even of committee-designated Heritage Trees in the context of development.



A number of other municipalities have provisions in their tree by-laws that list heritage designation (either under the Heritage Act, the Forests Ontario Heritage Trees Program, or the municipality’s own designation criteria/process) as potential grounds for permit refusal if the tree would otherwise be subject to a tree removal/injury permit (by virtue of DBH or whatever other regulating factors).



For example, Toronto’s private tree by-law allows for the refusal of a permit for a designated heritage tree or a tree that the general manager thinks should be designated:



“813-8. Review of applications; criteria.



The General Manager shall consider the following criteria prior to issuing or refusing to issue a

Permit:

…

K. Whether or not a tree is a heritage tree or should be protected as a heritage tree.”



I’m not sure how often that particular discretion is exercised, but as written it’s fairly wide open to provide grounds for protection (by way of refusal to issue a permit). I’d say that’s pretty good.



A quick search suggests related provisions in by-laws in Barrie, Guelph, Mississauga, Niagara Region, and Oakville, among others.



Given that the provisions are generally fairly similar across these by-laws in relation to heritage trees, it’s not clear what would make one by-law objectively better than another in this regard, other than enforcement/implementation and educating residents about the importance of heritage trees and the existence of said by-law.



Hope this helps.



--Alex



Alexander Satel, MFC

Urban forestry and arboricultural consultant

ISA Certified Arborist ON-1353A

ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ)

Urban Forest Innovations, Inc.

1331 Northaven Drive

Mississauga, ON L5G 4E8

T: (905) 274-1022

asatel at ufis.ca
urbanforestinnovations.com





From: CANUFNET <canufnet-bounces at list.web.net> On Behalf Of Mark Carroll via CANUFNET
Sent: Tuesday, April 16, 2024 10:56 AM
To: UMass Extension (Dr. Rick Harper Urban Forestry Today) <uft at umass.edu>; Canadian Urban Forest Network <canufnet at list.web.net>
Cc: Mark Carroll <environment1st at rogers.com>
Subject: [CANUFNET] Heritage Trees



Good day to all



This is where we are with developing a heritage tree bylaw.





"Developing a heritage tree bylaw or policy is a great initiative for preserving the natural heritage of your town. While the Ontario Heritage Act provides a framework for heritage preservation, creating additional measures specific to trees can further enhance conservation efforts. Here are some suggestions and examples you might find helpful:

  1.  Research Existing Policies: Look into other municipalities in Ontario or even beyond that have implemented successful heritage tree bylaws or policies. Some examples include Toronto's Significant Tree Bylaw and Vancouver's Heritage Trees Program. Analyze their frameworks, criteria for designation, and enforcement mechanisms to glean insights for your own policy.

  1.  Define Criteria for Designation: Establish clear criteria for designating heritage trees, considering factors such as age, size, rarity, historical significance, cultural importance, and ecological value. This ensures that only trees meeting specific criteria receive protection."



I am looking for anyone or City or Town that might have a good heritage tree bylaw or policy. I am looking to develop one for a small Town in Ontario. We want it to go above and beyond the Ontario Heritage Act or designation. If anyone knows of some good wording or examples that will preserve some of the more recognized or larger trees within a municipality.



Thank you for your attention to this request,



Mark Carroll

ISA Certified Arborist

Municipal Consultant

Certified Soil Biologist



Dirt to Soil Inc.

Biological Solutions to Growing and Caring For Plants

Where the Symphony of Soil Health Resonates. Join us on a journey to revive the earth beneath your feet, embracing a regenerative dance with nature. Through our innovative biological solutions, we breathe life back into the soil naturally. Together, lets revive and nurture vibrant ecosystems where plants thrive naturally!


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