Ensuring Healthy Urban Forests in Metro Vancouver METRO VANCOUVERS - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Ensuring Healthy Urban Forests in Metro Vancouver METRO VANCOUVER’S URBAN FOREST CLIMATE ADAPTATION INITIATIVE Edward Nichol SENIOR POLICY AND PLANNING ANALYST Sustainability Community Breakfast | February 20, 2019 | BCIT

Outline • Regional Urban Growth • Regional Climate Change Impacts • Urban Trees and Ecosystem Services • Urban Forest Climate Adaptation Initiative  Framework  Design Guidebook  Species Selection Database • Opportunities for Integration 2

Member Jurisdictions 21 municipalities one Electoral Area and one Treaty First Nation WORKING TOGETHER FOR A LIVABLE REGION 3

Regional Urban Growth 4

Metro 2040 2016 2040 2,570,000 3,400,000 975,000 1,300,000 1,355,000 1,700,000 5

Regional Climate Change Impacts • Climate projections:  Hotter, drier summers  Warmer winters, reduced snowpack  More extreme rainfall events • Impacts to ecosystems 6

Ecosystem Services Provided by Trees 7

Urban Forests in a Changing Climate • Provide ecosystem services, including climate adaptation BUT • Must be healthy and climate resilient to provide these services • Practical and regionally specific guidance was lacking 8

Urban Forest Climate Adaptation Initiative Goal: • Climate change is considered as part of urban forest planning and management • 3 outputs: 1. Framework 2. Species selection database 3. Design guidebook 9

1. Urban Forest Climate Adaptation Framework • Purpose:  Assess current vulnerabilities, identify future risks  Develop tools to build resilience • Management guidelines • 3 key steps to help practitioners select climate-adapted species 10

2. Species Selection Database • Local climate suitability • Tree growth predictions • Tree selection considerations • Recommended locations: Maximize benefits 11

3. Design Guidebook 12

Opportunities for Integration Metro Vancouver demonstrates bold leadership in responding to climate change • Resilient infrastructure, ecosystems, communities • 80% reduction in greenhouse gases in the region 13

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Climate 2050 Roadmaps 15

Thank you!