Lauren Patterson, Clean Air Partnership, Municipal Opportunities to Advance Community Forest Equity, Case studies from Ontario Municipal Efforts on Advancing Tree Equity.

Action Opportunities:

1. Establish a tree canopy target within the Official Plan.

2. Adopt a council approved Urban Forest Management Plan that includes a focus on tree planting and growing canopy covers.

3. Approve programs, actions, and policies to meet canopy targets.

4. Direct staff to undertake a Tree Equity Analysis.

5. Encourage cross-departmental collaborations to ensure tree equity considerations are included in development and infrastructure projects early on.

• PDF of Presentation
• Presentation Recording

• Many Ontario municipalities are advancing Forestry and/or Natural Capital Inventories and Plans.
• The setting of tree canopy targets is also emerging as a leading practice.
• As municipalities have become more sophisticated in advancing their natural capital and tree canopy they have realized that the distribution of those assets are not evenly spread across their neighbourhoods.
• While municipality wide and even ward level comparisons have been taking place, there is the growing recognition that there is the need to bring that analysis down to a neighbourhood scale to truly understand the access to tree canopy and/or green space from a resident access perspective.
• Municipalities have limited resources to be able to apply to their forest and natural capital investments. Prioritizing the most underserved areas provide ecological, equity and social outcomes.
• It is important as well to analyze the tree planting opportunities as those will also vary across the community. Identifying opportunities in underserved areas and prioritizing those opportunities enables municipalities to advance their forestry and natural capital goals while also providing investments to under served areas.
• The lack of sufficient tree canopy cover can lead to various negative outcomes for communities, including diminished quality of life, poorer air quality, increased heat risk, and fewer green spaces for residents. Ultimately, the absence of equitable tree coverage is an issue tied not only to environmental health but also to the broader goal of fostering equitable and healthy urban environments for all citizens.
• Several key factors contribute to the uneven distribution of tree canopy cover. One significant reason is the inadequate municipal funding for tree planting and maintenance, which prevents resources from being equitably allocated across different neighborhoods. Additionally, a lack of comprehensive canopy planning means that municipalities often fail to prioritize areas most in need. Furthermore, poor community engagement results in vital input from affected communities being overlooked, exacerbating the disparity.
• Certain municipalities in Ontario have begun implementing proactive strategies to address the inequities in tree canopy distribution. A data-driven approach prioritizes neighborhoods that contain high percentages of vulnerable populations alongside those with low existing canopy coverage. This methodology ensures that tree planting efforts target communities where the factors contributing to inequality are most pronounced.
• To determine where tree planting efforts should be concentrated, municipalities utilize a method known as a tree equity score. This score is derived from various factors, including canopy coverage, climate data, health statistics, and socioeconomic indicators. The resulting score ranges from 0 to 100, where lower scores indicate greater inequities that require prioritization.
• Effective tree equity initiatives require leadership and a commitment from elected officials to advance urban forestry efforts. Championing appropriate policies and funding is crucial in this context.
• Municipalities should begin by establishing officially approved tree canopy targets to provide a structured direction.
• Supporting the development and approval of an urban forest management plan can outline strategies for planting, maintaining, and expanding tree canopies, specifically in neighborhoods that require more equity.
• Integration of tree equity into planning processes can indeed lead to a fairer distribution of urban forestry assets. Emphasizing equity in these strategic approaches can enhance the long-term impact of planting efforts.
• Dense Sub/Urban centers face unique challenges due to spatial limitations in areas dominated by concrete and buildings. This makes it especially difficult and necessary to address tree inequity where there have been less investment due to limitations. However, digging into where the opportunities do exist in those types of areas is critical. Those areas have been underserved in the past because they are more challenging which has led to increasing inequities in those areas.
• Possible implementation next steps include: 1. Establish a tree canopy target within the Official Plan. 2. Adopt a council approved Urban Forest Management Plan that includes a focus on tree planting and growing canopy covers. 3. Approve programs, actions, and policies to meet canopy targets. 4. Direct staff to undertake a Tree Equity Analysis. 5. Encourage cross-departmental collaborations to ensure tree equity considerations are included in development and infrastructure projects early on.