Battleford looks to strengthen urban forestry

“They have policies that reward homeowners for adding more trees and shrubs to the community, and policies that discourage the removal of mature trees and urban forest assets.”

Those priorities are already being studied in Battleford, where the town is conducting an urban forestry study to inventory trees throughout the community and assess the health of its urban canopy.

“The trees in the river valley are failing faster than Mother Nature can replenish them,” Leslie said. “Within the community, we also have a lot of elm trees that will need to be replaced because of age or as a precaution against Dutch elm disease.”

Once complete, recommendations will go to council outlining priority areas for planting and replacement, the tree species best suited to the area, and long-term management recommendations for Finlayson Island and other key green spaces.

Leslie said investing in urban forestry provides environmental benefits and can help municipalities reduce infrastructure costs over time.

“It’s been proven that having the right trees at the right age helps control wind and cool the community,” he said. “It also extends the lifespan of pavement and sidewalks because they’re protected from the sun, wind and heat that cause deterioration.”

The urban forestry plan is expected to return to council for further discussion in July.

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Alyssa.rudolph@pattisonmedia.com

by Alyssa Rudolph

Battleford looks to strengthen urban forestry

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