Report to: General Committee Report
Date:
SUBJECT: Proposed Urban Forest Studies Partnership
PREPARED BY:
Nory Takata ext. # 3226
RECOMMENDATION:
1) That the report entitled ‘Proposed Urban Forest Studies Partnership’ be received; and,
2) That Council approve the Town’s participation in an Urban Forestry Studies Partnership with York Region and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority to conduct a UFORE (Urban Forest Effects Model) study in Markham; and,
3) That Council approve the allocation of the balance remaining
($37,000) in the 2008 Replacement Boulevard / Park Trees – Annual Program capital
account (acct. # 059 – 6150 8286 005) and the allocation of $17,000 from the
4) That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
1. Purpose 2. Background 3. Discussion 4. Financial 5. Others (Strategic, Affected Units) 6. Attachment(s)
PURPOSE:
The purpose
of this report is demonstrate the value of and to seek Council’s approval for
the Town’s participation in the proposed Urban Forest Studies Partnership with
York Region and the Toronto
BACKGROUND:
In November 2008, the Town’s Chief Administrative Officer, received a letter from York Region’s Commissioner of Transportation Services, to seek a commitment from the Town of Markham to conduct an Urban Forest Studies Project in partnership with York Region and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.
With the development and implementation of
To this end, the proposed UFORE study for
along with existing land use cover data, regional weather records and other available regional data, the Urban Forest Effects Model provides accurate estimates of:
· Urban Forest structure by land use type (Species composition, tree sizes, tree health etc.).
· Pollutants removed, total carbon stored, net carbon sequestered and other associated environmental benefits delivered by the urban forest.
· Effects of trees on building energy use and the resulting reduction of carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.
· Compensatory value ($) of the forest, as well as the value of air pollution removal, carbon storage and sequestration.
· Potential impact of pests such as Gypsy Moth, Emerald Ash Borer, or Asian Long-horned Beetle, based on tree species and vulnerability to attack.
This information represents important baseline data that can be used to strategically assess and model how the urban forest can develop or be enhanced to optimize the level of environmental services provided. UFORE data can provide the basis for a variety of cost / benefit analyses, such as the reduction of health care costs and savings via energy conservation. Included in the study budget, is a report summarizing the findings and providing direction for the future management of the urban forest.
Work is currently underway to integrate UFORE data with other software applications, to expand the capabilities and application of the UFORE program.
OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION
This proposed partnership represents significant cost avoidance for
the Town ($66,000), since
As outlined in York Region’s study proposal, project management,
including all aspects of the administration, project set up, data collection,
report production and communication between partners will be handled by the
Subject to approval, field data collection will commence in June
2009 and be completed by the end of August 2009. Compilation and inputting of
data set is scheduled for completion by mid to late October after which
‘packaged data’ is sent to the University of Syracuse for evaluation and
analysis using UFORE software (4-6 week turnaround time). The resulting UFORE
data is then returned to the project manager for analysis, interpretation and
report production. The Town and study partners will receive the completed
report sometime during the second quarter of 2010. The completed UFORE study
holds great value in and of itself. This value is further enhanced by the
opportunity to compare and contrast
The financial responsibility of each partner in the study proposal is outlined in Table 1.
Table
1
Proposed Project Financing
|
Partner |
Contribution Level |
Contribution Amount |
|
|
45% |
$54,000 |
|
|
45% |
$54,000 |
|
TRCA |
10% |
$12,000 |
|
Total |
100% |
$120,000 |
As stated above, the Town’s financial contribution towards the UFORE
study is $54,000 or 45% of the total projected study cost. It is proposed that
The balance of $37,000 remaining in the ‘Replacement Boulevard /
Park Trees – Annual Program capital account (acct. # 059 – 6150 8286 005) has
been identified as the main funding source, with an additional $17,000 to be applied for as a staff project
under the
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PRIORITIES:
The information generated by the UFORE study will provide data with direct implications (i.e. help inform or direct future management decisions) for:
Growth Management
UFORE data provides the basis for the quantitative assessment of links between green and grey infrastructure. This would enable planners / managers to predict the extent to which existing (and / or additions to) tree populations serve to mitigate the environmental impacts of all future development. The merging of UFORE field data assessments with other spatial analyses (currently in development) will greatly increase the value of UFORE as a predictive tool in any growth management or sustainability study. One important aspect of the UFORE study, as it pertains to growth management, is to demonstrate how important it is to leave enough space or retain the opportunity to plant trees in the future in all new developments whether they be commercial, industrial or residential.
Environment
Sustainability,
as a core principle of
Municipal Services
UFORE also assigns monetary value to the environmental services provided by trees. This data can be used to justify any business case requiring the allocation of financial and or human resources towards the management, maintenance and replacement of trees.
Parks, Recreation, Culture and Library Master Plan
UFORE will provide valuable data for the master plan development at both the macro and micro level. UFORE data can be used to establish design criteria or set targets aimed at optimizing the environmental benefits delivered by any new parkland. UFORE data about the effects of trees on local climate, air quality and the potential for energy savings (or emissions avoided) can help to determine the location, distribution and selection of trees in the landscape planning process for new facilities.
Public Safety and Diversity
As an aspect of
Public Safety, public health is one focus of the UFORE model, via the measuring
of air quality improvements delivered by the urban forest. This data can
provide the basis for recommendations about planting trees in areas where local
air quality improvements are being sought. Protection from exposure to UV radiation
is an additional health benefit provided by trees.
Environmental
quality concerns everyone and the UFORE report will help to educate all
residents about the beneficial role of trees in urban settings. Shared values
and common goals help to bring people together, as evidenced in the turnout to
the Community Tree Planting Events in last year’s Trees for Tomorrow Program –
volunteer participation was representative of
DEPARTMENTS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:
· Financial Services
· Office of the CAO (Sustainability Office)
· Community and Fire Services (Environmental Leadership)
RECOMMENDED
BY: ________________________ ________________________
Paul Ingham, Peter Loukes, P. Eng.
General Manager Director, Operations
__________________________________
Brenda Librecz
Commissioner, Community & Fire
Services
ATTACHMENTS:
n/a
X:\Commission
Share\Operations and Asset Management\Reports\2009\Operations\Business & Technical\Proposed
Urban Forest Studies Report.doc