Residents to feel 'devastating' impact of tree removals

Cambridgetimes.ca
June 3, 2015
By Bill Jackson

It’s a centuries-old philosophical dilemma - whether a tree falling in a forest truly makes a sound if there’s no one around to hear it.

But no matter if you hear trees being removed in Cambridge during the next several years, the city’s forestry division promises you’ll feel the impact.

“It’s quite devastating,” according to manager Brian Geerts, who’s currently dealing with emerald ash borer infestation - public safety being the number one priority.

More than 4,000 ash trees are slated to be removed, starting with 1,000 this year, primarily on city streets.

Others will also need to be removed in parks, woodlands and near recreational trails.

During a presentation to city council on Tuesday (June 2), Geerts showed before and after pictures in jurisdictions that have already undertaken ash tree removal in residential neighbourhoods, leaving them relatively bare.

Removing ash trees on city streets will cost close to $3 million between now and 2020. But that doesn’t include replacing them with other species, which could cost between $1 to $2 million more, per year.

Council has approved a 10-year capital budget consisting of $500,000 per year to begin to address the emerald ash borer, but according to a staff report, there is a “significant shortfall” between current funding and plan requirements.

The Emerald Ash Borer Action Plan alone is currently funded at 32 per cent of the “moderate” tree planting rate, the report notes.

In 2013, initial total cost estimates for EAB ranged from $7 million to $22 million over seven years. The major cost variable was in tree planting.

The first step was a street tree inventory, completed in the fall of 2014.

Of the 55,000 trees surveyed, 4,095 are ash.

Further inventories will be completed for other city lands including parks, trails, woodlot perimeters abutting private land, etc.

“Right now we are advising residents we can’t replant trees this year, but we hope to in the future, and that’s the best I can offer right now,” said Geerts.

Council will have to approve a funding plan during future budget deliberations. Options vary and depend on overall objectives.

Cambridge has 27 per cent canopy cover (30 per cent is considered healthy), and the asset value of the urban forest is $800-900 million, which is estimated to provide $3 million in annual ecosystem services.

“We’re trying to get across the message that trees are just more than decoration, but green infrastructure,” said the city’s sustainability planner Paul Willms.

Benefits include air quality improvement, stormwater control and wildlife habitat, among many others, he listed.

According to the city’s urban forest plan, the loss of benefits may have significant adverse effects upon city residents.

Recent research has found that widespread ash tree mortality is directly linked to increased human mortality due to a correlated increase in cardiovascular and lower respiratory tract illnesses.

A “business-as-usual” analysis revealed the city will be in a net loss of tree canopy if it continues with current practices.

On average, city forestry operations currently experience a net loss in tree replacement each year, with 200-300 trees removed and about 160 replanted, on average.

The city’s new urban forest plan, which council approved in principle, proposes to greatly increase city tree planting to 1,700 trees per year.

The plan, which includes 32 recommended action items, proposes many high-impact but modest financial requests, and significant tree planting investments.

“A higher replacement ratio and replacement of removed park trees are preferred, but may be cost-prohibitive at the current time. Given that it may take upwards of 30 years for a newly-planted tree to begin providing substantial urban forest benefits, it is recommended that infill and underplanting (planting prior to tree removal) be undertaken.”