Tree bylaw comes to council

Theweeklynews.ca
Sept. 12, 2017
By Melissa Schneider

A proposed tree bylaw dealing with the preservation of municipal and private trees was put before council on Sept. 5.

Julie Tucker, City of St. Thomas arborist who has worked on the bylaw for the past seven years, said she is hopeful the plan will go through, adding that while it's been a long process, the bylaw is needed to address a current lack of policy.

"Right now we don't have a formal procedure in place so there's not a whole lot we can do when we see trees pruned, removed by property owners or vandalized," she said. "That's why we want to have a municipal tree bylaw come into effect so we can preserve the trees located on city lands."

With a certificate in arbouriculture and a diploma in forestry and parks and recreation Tucker has spent countless hours caring for city trees.

A 2007 inventory shows there are approximately 50,000 trees in the city, a number Tucker said will be less now with the onset of Emerald Ash Borer and other diseases that have drastically reduced the tree canopy, leading for necessary action to preserve what's left.

"Trees don't just provide oxygen - they provide shade, overall enjoyment for people and they help control erosion. Trees have many wonderful benefits for the community and they're something to take pride in."

Tucker said the bylaw is designed for the benefit of the community and prohibits and regulates the destruction and vandalism of trees on city owned land.

"It's a long-term plan to help increase the forest canopy in St. Thomas."

Under the bylaw new fees will be introduced for the replacement of trees, the removal of non-hazardous trees and the cost of a tree-cutting permit.