Town of Oakville earns forest certification

insidehalton.com
March 27, 2014
By David Lea

The Town of Oakville has received sustainable forest certification — in part for cutting down hundreds of trees.

The Town announced earlier this year that the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has certified all of Oakville’s 282 woodland properties through the Eastern Ontario Model Forest (EOMF) program because of the Town’s work in combating the emerald ash borer (EAB).

Oakville’s work to eradicate EAB has included the removal of dead or dying ash trees, which have been ravaged by the invasive parasite.

“One of the Town’s most livable features is an abundance of woodland areas and nature trails,” said Oakville Mayor Rob Burton in a news release.

“We are proud to be acknowledged for the work we’re doing to protect our trees in an effort to reach our urban forest canopy goal of 40 per cent by 2057.”

The certification news was presented to Town council earlier this year as part of the 2013 EAB Update Report.

The report provided an overview of the 2013 EAB management program and accomplishments, as well as information on the upcoming 2014 Woodlands Conservation Program aimed to manage EAB in the Town’s woodlands.

“Our 2014 Woodlands Conservation Program is one way the Town is meeting these best practices for forest health. With ash trees in our natural woodlands being ravaged by EAB, dead and dying ash trees near trails and private property must be removed to conserve our woodlots and ensure public safety,” said John McNeil, manager of Forestry Services at the Town of Oakville.

“Removing them before they fall not only reduces the risk to the public, it can slow the spread of EAB.”

While natural regeneration will account for most of the regrowth in the woodlands, McNeil said, the Town would continue to establish a number of concentrated planting sites called Prime Sites to help the forest replace the lost trees more rapidly with desirable native species.

McNeil said that in addition to ash trees, other trees identified as a high safety risk or that compromise the health of the forest would be cut down.

He noted that following this sustainable forest management approach, the Town was able to expand the number of properties that are certified sustainable by the FSC from three woodland parks to all 282.

The 2014 Woodlands Conservation Program covers approximately 34 woodands.

The program will roll out as weather and ground conditions permit.

Some woodlands and trails will be temporarily closed over periods throughout the year while trees are removed.

A woodlands conservation open house is to be held later in the year.

During 2013, slightly more than 1,100 ash trees were removed from active parks along roadways.

A total of 344 ash trees were replaced on the public road allowance and in active parks and 2,944 municipal ash trees received injections to protect them against EAB.

While the 2014 Woodlands Conservation Program does not list an estimate of how many trees will be removed, it does identify Shell Park, Pelee Woods Park, Nipegon Trail, Nautical Woods, Colborne Park, Shannon Creek Trail, Shannon Creek Trail 2, Shannon Creek Trail 4 and Clear Water Woods as areas where there are relatively high concentrations of dead/dying trees that must be cleared.

All of these parks are expected to be closed during the forest operations for public safety.

The EOMF is a not-for-profit organization that works with government and other stakeholders to promote sustainable forest management through FSC certification, which is known worldwide as the mark of responsible forestry.

The EOMF provides independent auditors to evaluate woodlands and determine that their owners are complying with sound forestry standards.

Those that comply have their woodlots certified as well-managed.

For more information on the Town’s Woodlands Conservation Program, visit the Town’s trees and woodlands page at www.oakville.ca.