Achieving 40 percent forest cover in the urban area by 2045 is the goal of Maple Ridge’s new urban forestry management strategy.
City Council approved the 128-page document on Tuesday, July 23. The strategy considers a network of native, urban and landscape trees, including those in parks, private property and along major thoroughfares.
A citywide map of tree canopy coverage showed that Maple Ridge has 54 percent tree canopy coverage overall, but 38 percent within the city limits.
Staff noted that more trees will be needed to reach a 40 percent private planting rate over the next 20 years, so the city needs to encourage the public to plant trees on private property.
“I think that’s a very ambitious number, and it’s going to take a lot of work to get there,” said Chad Neufeld, manager of parks, planning and development.
“Beyond serving as an aesthetic and recreational attraction, Maple Ridge’s urban forest is an essential natural asset that is critical to the overall well-being of the community,” the report states. “Trees and forests provide shade, cool the urban heat island, filter air and water pollutants, enhance physical and mental health, support biodiversity, and store carbon, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
The report gives some statistics on the benefits of trees: Maple Ridge’s urban forest could absorb more than 20,500 tonnes of carbon, equivalent to the emissions of 884 passenger cars, and prevent 2.2 billion litres of stormwater runoff, 1.3 times the size of Lake Woonock.
A heat map taken at 7pm on 30 June 2021 shows that surface temperatures in Hammond and Town Centre were above 30°C, while in the Blue Mountains and Thornhill it was just 18°C at the same time.
The report noted that Maple Ridge has a higher rate of tree canopy coverage than most cities in the region: A 2019 Metro Vancouver study estimated the regional average for the city’s tree canopy coverage at 32 per cent.
Maple Ridge is also home to tall trees, with 3 percent of the trees over 164 feet (50 meters) tall. The tallest tree in the city is 230 feet (70 meters), taller than the city’s tallest building, the 13-story Baptist Tower.
The strategy talks about protecting and expanding urban forests, using modern codes and policies to protect forests, and encouraging more tree planting. It also calls for increased compensation for cutting down trees and an urban tree-planting plan that specifies where replacement trees will be planted on streets, in parks, and other areas.
The city began developing the strategy last year, soliciting public input and participation through surveys. The city reported that 19 of 20 survey respondents agreed with the overall direction of the urban forest strategy, and 81 percent thought the target for tree canopy coverage should be higher than 40 percent.
“This is such an important part of moving forward especially as we look at heat domes and climate change and how to keep our communities not only beautiful but safe, happy and green places,” Councilwoman Coreen Carreras said.
“I think this is a really important opportunity for the region,” Councilman Sonny Siler agreed, saying, “I worry that we’re not ambitious enough.”
She said the tree planting strategy complements other environmental conservation efforts in the city.
Schiller would like to see the city be more proactive in its planning, suggesting planting should start in areas with the fewest trees. Maple Ridge’s tree canopy is generally highest in the northeast part of the city and lowest in the southwest, with less than 20 percent in Hammond.
