Parksville Urban Forest Strategy

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Project description

Parksville’s urban forest includes all trees, vegetation and soil; spanning parks, streets, existing forests and other ecosystems, agriculture lands, and private property. The urban forest is an important community resource integral to the character of the city.

The City is currently in the process of developing an Urban Forest Strategy that will provide baseline information about the state of our urban forest, develop a long-term vision, and adopt tangible goals for its management and growth. The City will be inviting community members to participate in the development of the Strategy over the next year.

Background
Trees are living assets that provide numerous benefits to the community such as capturing rainwater, cleaning air, shading and cooling streets and buildings, promoting economic growth by attracting tourism, and reducing energy use costs including heating and cooling. The urban forest also supports our physical and mental health and wellbeing – you may have experienced these benefits during the pandemic, for example, while walking in your neighbourhood or exploring the forest in and around Parksville.

The urban forest is facing challenges from climate hazards, urbanization, and declining forest health. The increase in the number of tree species dying throughout the city are prime examples of the impacts of warmer, drier summers affecting the health and species composition of our native forests. The City’s resources have been stretched to manage the volume of dead, dying and high risk trees. Parksville also needs to accommodate a growing population, which means new housing and infrastructure are being built in areas that used to be forest. Rarely can individual or small groups of trees that grew up in a forest be retained when development occurs because they are vulnerable to winds once exposed. In these areas, the trees that are planted in new yards, parks and along streets will form the future forest canopy. The Urban Forest Strategy will provide direction for the City to address these challenges and harness the opportunities to achieve the community’s vision for Parksville’s future urban forest.

Project description

Parksville’s urban forest includes all trees, vegetation and soil; spanning parks, streets, existing forests and other ecosystems, agriculture lands, and private property. The urban forest is an important community resource integral to the character of the city.

The City is currently in the process of developing an Urban Forest Strategy that will provide baseline information about the state of our urban forest, develop a long-term vision, and adopt tangible goals for its management and growth. The City will be inviting community members to participate in the development of the Strategy over the next year.

Background
Trees are living assets that provide numerous benefits to the community such as capturing rainwater, cleaning air, shading and cooling streets and buildings, promoting economic growth by attracting tourism, and reducing energy use costs including heating and cooling. The urban forest also supports our physical and mental health and wellbeing – you may have experienced these benefits during the pandemic, for example, while walking in your neighbourhood or exploring the forest in and around Parksville.

The urban forest is facing challenges from climate hazards, urbanization, and declining forest health. The increase in the number of tree species dying throughout the city are prime examples of the impacts of warmer, drier summers affecting the health and species composition of our native forests. The City’s resources have been stretched to manage the volume of dead, dying and high risk trees. Parksville also needs to accommodate a growing population, which means new housing and infrastructure are being built in areas that used to be forest. Rarely can individual or small groups of trees that grew up in a forest be retained when development occurs because they are vulnerable to winds once exposed. In these areas, the trees that are planted in new yards, parks and along streets will form the future forest canopy. The Urban Forest Strategy will provide direction for the City to address these challenges and harness the opportunities to achieve the community’s vision for Parksville’s future urban forest.

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Urban Forest Map

over 2 years

On this map, you can add pins to share locations where you value the urban forest or where you think it needs improvements. You can also click on the pins submitted by other users to find out what they think.

 To add a pin within the yellow boundary, click on the + sign on the left and drag a pin onto the map. Add as many pins as you want!

 Please make sure to describe why you value the urban forest at this location or how you think it should be improved. You can also upload a photo to show the locations you are describing.

Page last updated: 02 Feb 2024, 12:15 PM