Edmonton wants to protect trees on private land

At the June 14 meeting, the City of Edmonton Planning Committee discussed the possibility of creating a by-law to better control the number of trees that could be removed on private land.

According to the report presented to city councilors, the initiative will enhance the city’s forests in the capital Alberta and bring many environmental, economic, ecological and social benefits.

Therefore, City Councilor Aaron Paquette filed a motion asking the City administration to describe ways in which the City can achieve its goal of planting two million trees by 2050 and to see if a regulation affects private Property can be an option.

Kristine Kowalchuk, a member of Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalitionbelieves that the municipal council should adopt this law.

Trees play an important role in mitigating the effects of climate changehe says. They clean the air, cool the city and help prevent the risk of drought and floods.

Protection vs. densification

For some, this new by-law will be a bad thing. This is the case of Don Tolsma, one of the directors of the Canadian Home Builders ’Association. He thinks the City of Edmonton should not pursue this idea.

According to him, the regulation will complicate the construction of houses. He said mature trees are protected, as much as possible, because they are very popular with the owners, but the trees are sick, that should be removed.

In addition, Mr. Tolsma asserted that this by-law was contrary to the purposes of Edmonton’s intensification.

” If densification is the way to go, where the City is, then there will be fewer trees. “

Aaron Paquette, for his part, believes the City needs more time to strike a balance between protecting trees and increasing densification.

There is tension that some redevelopment needed to increase density to meet our climate targets means that some trees on private land are not suitable for this redevelopment.said the councilor.

Since last August, a municipal regulation stipulates that no work can be done within five meters from a trunk on a boulevard or in an open space as well as ten meters from a natural limit; unless you have a permit, permit or conduct work according to a plan established to protect the tree.

Other Canadian cities, including Ottawa, Vancouver, Toronto, Surrey and Oakville, have rules to protect trees on private land, but the results have been mixed.

City managers will report the status of the law to the City of Edmonton Planning Committee in early 2023.

With information from Natasha Riebe