Save Our Canopy
Join OURS-Winnipeg to ensure Winnipeg City Council places a budget priority on our urban forest! #SaveOurCanopy
We support a tree protection by-law for both public and private trees
City of Winnipeg Urban Forest Document Library
Trees Please response to draft Urban Forestry Strategy June 2022
We support a tree protection by-law for both public and private trees
City of Winnipeg Urban Forest Document Library
Trees Please response to draft Urban Forestry Strategy June 2022
1. Draft Urban Forest Strategy
This will be the first time in more than a century of tree planting the city will have such a blueprint.
2. Multi-year Budget 2021 Update
This will be the first time in more than a century of tree planting the city will have such a blueprint.
2. Multi-year Budget 2021 Update
What is an urban forest?
The sum total of all trees and associated vegetation, soil, natural processes and cultural elements on public and private land in and around towns, cities and other communities. Source : Glossary, City of Winnipeg Complete Communities 2.0
2021 City of Winnipeg Urban Forest Enhancement Budget remains flat from previous year and is not forecast to increase.
Service gaps remain
- For every three trees removed only one is replaced
- Tree pruning cycle is one in every 30 years. Industry standard is 1 in 7 years
- Still no funding for EAB (emerald ash borer) program.
- $11.7 M was identified in 2018 report (p.17) for urban forest enhancement project and need has grown since then.
- $3 M was received from Federal Disaster Relief providing $1 M / year for each of three years for the urban forest
The sum total of all trees and associated vegetation, soil, natural processes and cultural elements on public and private land in and around towns, cities and other communities. Source : Glossary, City of Winnipeg Complete Communities 2.0
2021 City of Winnipeg Urban Forest Enhancement Budget remains flat from previous year and is not forecast to increase.
Service gaps remain
- For every three trees removed only one is replaced
- Tree pruning cycle is one in every 30 years. Industry standard is 1 in 7 years
- Still no funding for EAB (emerald ash borer) program.
- $11.7 M was identified in 2018 report (p.17) for urban forest enhancement project and need has grown since then.
- $3 M was received from Federal Disaster Relief providing $1 M / year for each of three years for the urban forest
It is concerning that more trees are being lost than replaced
The City of Winnipeg’s iconic tree canopy is in crisis due to disease, climate change, development and chronic under-funding. October 2019’s unprecedented storm displayed the challenges extreme weather can place on the urban forest and the need for its stable funding and care. The city’s forestry budget has not allowed for adequate disease management(p. 17 ), planting (p. 148), or pruning, ( well below industry best practices, p. 149). As a result, we are losing our canopy.
- 2019 had highest number of trees infected with Dutch elm disease since the City began tracking
- 9,500 American elm trees marked for removal in 2019 and 1,500 ash trees
- by July 2020 about 5,300 of Winnipeg's 225,000 American elms were marked for removal
- 1,400 replacement trees planted 2019
- a one-for-one replacement would be ideal
Park planning, tree planting and tree pruning and removal (except DED) are "NOT REQUIRED" services - City of Winnipeg
The designation of "NOT REQUIRED" puts the urban canopy at a disadvantage in City budgeting and planning.
The urban tree canopy is an essential and valuable part of urban life
Protecting the health of urban forest requires long-term planning for resilience as well as short-term crisis management.
Our cities are much better off when they have healthy, thriving forest canopies.
Our cities are much better off when they have healthy, thriving forest canopies.
2020 Budget presentations - $7.6M shortfall for urban forest
View 2020 Budget presentations and Parks and Open Space Capitol Budget This forestry budget did not allow for adequate disease management(p. 17), planting (p. 148), or pruning, (we fall well below industry best practices, p. 149). As a result, we are losing our canopy.
The Budget Presentation (Nov 16/19) for Public Works Department (Parks & Open Spaces Division) did not address the $7.61 million shortfall of the 2019 Urban Forest Enhancement Program for tree pruning and maintenance .
