Urban Forest Strategy Update

December 17, 2021

The first phase of public engagement on the Urban Forest Strategy was completed on November 1. We have been continuing to work with Diamond Head Consulting to draft the Urban Forest Strategy, building on input from the public and City staff. Thank you to those who visited the information on Let’s Talk Parksville, shared their voices in the online survey, contributed an urban forest location in the mapping tab, and shared ideas on the ideas tab. Here are some key findings from the first phase of engagement:

• 18% of survey respondents live on streets with few or no trees – 41% of respondents prefer streets with large-sized trees of mixed species and spacing
• The three most important urban forest benefits for survey respondents are creating habitat for plants and animals, providing clean water and clean air.
• The most important considerations for street tree selection identified by survey respondents were to maximize benefits, tolerance to climate change, and attractiveness to birds and pollinators.
• Respondents would like the City to prioritize planting trees in parks, streets, and major arterial roads
• Tree loss has affected survey respondents - 66% have been affected and the majority (74%) ranked that impact as severe.
• Most respondents attached an increased importance to trees and outdoor spaces during the pandemic (72%).
• Survey respondents were mixed over current levels of service for urban forest management, expressing the most dissatisfaction with protecting trees during development (66% dissatisfied).
• Most respondents indicated a willingness to contribute $25 and $100 per year per household to increase levels of satisfaction.
• Survey respondents are active urban forest stewards - 97% participated in at least one urban forest stewardship activity in the last five years.
• The top reasons for submitting the urban forest locations on the mapping tool were because participants appreciate the landscape and can experience nature in those places.

More results from the first phase of public engagement will be shared during phase two of engagement and in the draft strategy. Please subscribe for project updates and check back on Lets Talk Parksville in the winter and early spring 2022 for an opportunity to review and provide input on Parksville’s draft Urban Forest Strategy. Thank you for your time and input to help shape Parksville’s urban forest for the next 15 years and beyond.