Saanich Draft Urban Forest Strategy

[Bernard]

Saanich has developed a draft Urban Forest Strategy. They are taking comments till January 7th. I have not yet had a chance to read the document. When I do, I will post my thoughts

[AnonAnnie2]

Originally Posted by Bernard

Saanich has developed a draft Urban Forest Strategy. They are taking comments till January 7th. I have not yet had a chance to read the document. When I do, I will post my thoughts

I had a very very quick look and the plan is aggressive (will impact developers to a great extent).
Their plan will help them towards goals of reducing carbon etc. I like it and wish I had more time to be involved - managing five acres of 40 plus trees in the district is enough to contend with (time and money) and I'm not making the progress I would have liked with the Condo Corp. much work ahead!

[G-Man]

God does this mean more useless setbacks in front of buildings? Kill me now!

[phx]

On first reading, I'm not impressed.

[phx]

The document touts the carbon sequestering benefits of trees, yet lawns are equally effective at that.

Where is the strategy to encourage lawns?

[G-Man]

^ only if you don't cut it.

[gumgum]

We need a technology that can easily and cheaply allow for trees to be grown on roofs of larger buildings. That would be so cool.

[North Shore]

I wonder how they square that with the proposed clearcut in Haro Woods?

[phx]

Originally Posted by G-Man

^ only if you don't cut it.

Just the opposite, you want to cut and mulch regularly to get the most carbon sequestration.

[VicHockeyFan]

For God's sake, 98% of this country is forest, if we cut down a tree in Saanich, we ought to just plant two extra ones outside Dawson Creek to more then make up for it.

[Bernard]

Originally Posted by VicHockeyFan

For God's sake, 98% of this country is forest, if we cut down a tree in Saanich, we ought to just plant two extra ones outside Dawson Creek to more then make up for it.

Yes we have a lot of trees in Canada, but forest cover is about 1/2 the country. Even BC is not 98% forest covered

The one thing I did note within the report is the increase in impervious surfaces in Saanich. This is not a good trend.

[gumgum]

Saanich should focus on higher density and discourage surface parking lots. This could be more helpful just an urban forest strategy.

[VicHockeyFan]

Originally Posted by Bernard

Yes we have a lot of trees in Canada, but forest cover is about 1/2 the country. Even BC is not 98% forest covered

The one thing I did note within the report is the increase in impervious surfaces in Saanich. This is not a good trend.

OK, sorry, I meant that of the areas where trees CAN grow, almost all of it is full of trees.

[Bernard]

Originally Posted by VicHockeyFan

OK, sorry, I meant that of the areas where trees CAN grow, almost all of it is full of trees.

Clear cutting old growth and replanting sequesters a lot of CO2. Burning trees instead of coal in power plants is carbon neutral. Tree growth is not a good thing to focus on in climate change

[Firefly]

It's sad and unfortunate that the Saanich Urban Forest Strategy will not be able to save the urban green space known as Haro Woods.
For 50 years the neighbourhood has grown up around this 10 ha space that is home for the many deer that populate this area of Cadboro Bay, as well as the Cooper's Hawks, the Barred Owls, the Pileated Woodpeckers and Eagles - not to mention the endangered second growth West Coast Douglas Firs.
The concerns voiced in the New Urban Forest Strategy and the Cadboro Bay Local Area Plan are being glossed over until the CRD makes up it's mind about the environmentally damaging secondary sewage treatment plant that is scheduled for construction.
For the readers information, this Industrial Facility will be constructed right across the street from a Children's Hospital that treats children with developmental challenges - such as Autism. Can you Imagine?!
Aside from the destruction of land and marine life as a consequence of this pending project - NO ONE is addressing the high risk to the hundreds of children that surround Haro Woods. One of the highest density of children's institutions in Saanich. 2,000 trucks will decend on our neighbourhood - for 2 years - children with Autism will not survive this intrusion into their lives. There will be long term reprocussions to them and their families.
Please contact the Minister of the Environment - Barry Penner - demand that this dangerous plant that Dwayne Kalynchuk wants to see go ahead - no matter what the consequence - is stopped immediately. If the Finnerty Outfall is used in conjuction with Dwayne's plans - the JPod Orcas will suffer the consequences, as will all the marine life on the east and southern coasts of Vancouver Island.
Our Minister of the Environment refuses to meet with scientists, health officers and consult with the public on this issue. WHY?
GO TO www.saveharowoods.ca I set up last year - get informed. Find out how you can get involved. Sign up now on facebook - search SAVE HARO WOODS - Take a walk through Haro Woods - access off of Finnerty, Arbutus and Haro Road - it's open, and flat and well lit - even on a cloudy day.

FIND OUT why this community has been trying to have HARO WOODS preserved as a PARK for over 30 years.

It's now or never. Take action now to stop this pending disaster that will negatively impact on our future generations and our fragile Urban, ecosystems - like Haro Woods.

[ZGsta]

Originally Posted by Firefly

For the readers information, this Industrial Facility will be constructed right across the street from a Children's Hospital that treats children with developmental challenges - such as Autism. Can you Imagine?!
Aside from the destruction of land and marine life as a consequence of this pending project - NO ONE is addressing the high risk to the hundreds of children that surround Haro Woods. One of the highest density of children's institutions in Saanich. 2,000 trucks will decend on our neighbourhood - for 2 years - children with Autism will not survive this intrusion into their lives. There will be long term reprocussions to them and their families.

"They're building something across the road from a children's hospital" seems like kind of a stretch for a complaint. Sewage treatment kills autistic kids?