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Kelowna needs tens of thousands of trees to meet urban forest targets

Of the city含羞草研究社檚 five districts, the Gateway (UBCO/Airport) and Urban Centres have the lowest canopy coverage
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Approximately 80,000 new trees will need to be planted over the next two decades to meet the goals of the city含羞草研究社檚 Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy.

This includes city and private property. 

含羞草研究社淓xcluding the Agriculture Land Reserve (ALR) the analysis identified that Kelowna含羞草研究社檚 canopy coverage currently sits at 22 per cent,含羞草研究社 Todd Cashin, urban forest supervisor, told council at its Aug. 26 meeting. 

Grassland cities, like Kelowna, typically have a canopy cover between 20 and 25 percent, he added.

Of the city含羞草研究社檚 five districts, the Gateway (UBCO/Airport) and Urban Centres have the lowest canopy coverage.

含羞草研究社淗owever, the coverage does increase as you move from the core areas to the suburbs and rural districts,含羞草研究社 Cashin said.

Approximately 75 per cent of trees are on private property. 

含羞草研究社淕iven this, the resiliency of our urban forest requires that we must engage, educate and support private land owners in maintaining and growing trees in our urban environment,含羞草研究社 Cashin added.

Council also heard that agricultural land, which makes up approximately 50 per cent of land in the city, was not included in the urban forest report.

含羞草研究社淚 think it would be an interesting measuring stick to see when we look at the entire city footprint what our tree canopy is,含羞草研究社 said Councillor Luke Stack.

Staff told council that while agriculture data is available it was not included in the report as farmers often down fruit trees and replace them with others. 

It含羞草研究社檚 expected agriculture data will be included in future updates of Kelowna含羞草研究社檚 tree canopy.

The city含羞草研究社檚 NeighbourWoods Program starts on Aug. 27. Residents can pre-order trees at a cost of $50.



Gary Barnes

About the Author: Gary Barnes

Journalist and broadcaster for three decades.
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