Meaford resident Jane Buchanan has been on a mission over the last few years to encourage the Municipality of Meaford to establish a tree re-planting program.
She and her husband moved to Meaford five years ago. They chose to come to Meaford in part because of the natural beauty in and around the town.
“The tree-lined streets, the green areas, parks and trails within reach of the downtown core - and yet we also have orchards and woods surrounding the town. It is a wonderful habitat for birds & wildlife, such a gem,” says Buchanan, “This landscape must not be taken for granted or allowed to be ruined by ill-thought through development.”
It wasn't long before Buchanan noticed a disturbing pattern of felling trees without replacing them. Trees have been aggressively pruned or removed altogether for a variety of reasons. New building developments, to remove road or pathway obstructions, or to clear branches from close proximity to power lines.
Buchanan doesn't dispute the need for this, but she does feel that it is important to replace what is removed.
“During the past few years (for example) Hydro One have sent chainsaw crews to severely prune and remove any trees near their power lines across Ontario and indeed in Meaford,” she said, “Healthy trees were pruned in many cases at the wrong time of year and in many cases taken down unnecessarily. Some of these badly pruned trees will or have become diseased no doubt and will probably require removal in the near future.”
“Hydro One had the right to prune and remove trees too near their lines, and as the Municipality has no tree program, there was nothing the Municipality could do to protect the trees within the town,” a frustrated Buchanan adds.
Buchanan points to other municipalities that have established tree re-planting programs. Orangeville and Oakville are cited as examples.
In their 2009 first quarter newsletter available on their website, the Municipality of Orangeville informed their residents that in the spring of 2009 two separate tree planting events were being held. Orangeville teamed up with the likes of Credit Valley Conservation, Trout Unlimited, and a variety of local service clubs to help make the project happen. In the previous year (2008) over 120 people participated in the tree planting events.
"It was extremely gratifying and encouraging to see the area dotted with people planting trees last year," said Orangeville Mayor Rob Adams. "There was a lot of enthusiasm as people dug in and planted a new forest. This year's event is a great opportunity to continue ‘greening' Orangeville."
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources has been promoting their goal of planting 50 million trees by 2020. The plan was announced in 2007 and is part of an international push to increase the number of trees on the planet. To do this, they will need several community stakeholders including municipalities, conservation groups, and private sector organizations to get involved.
According to Trees Ontario, the benefits that come along with planting more trees are many.
“Offsetting carbon; diversifying Ontario's landscape; moderating local climates by providing shade, moderating temperature extremes and reducing the effects of storms; creating more habitats for wildlife; improving soil and water conservation; and boosting local economic opportunities - to name just a few,” said Trees Ontario in a 2009 release.
From a Meaford perspective, it is important to Buchanan that the municipality not only get involved, but become the driver of such an initiative.
“Forming a group such as a “Friends of Meaford Trees” is a fine idea, but such groups do not usually work in the long-term, nor do they have any teeth,” offers Buchanan, “To actually get the trees planted and to stop the destruction of present healthy trees there must be the backing of Council and a well written program and bylaw.”
Backing and participation by the municipality does not mean that it has to cost taxpayers a lot of money as Orangeville has shown with the partners they have engaged to help.
Buchanan agrees.
“A tree “Group” could then be formed to keep the main tree replanting program upfront in people’s minds, encourage tree sponsorship ideas, and help coordinate other Municipal and private tree planting projects,” offers Buchanan.
Though she has been actively lobbying members of council to get the topic brought to the table, she has thus far not had much luck.
Councillor Harley Greenfield has been looking into the issue, and has confirmed that the municipality does not have a tree planting bylaw, but rather has a 'Strategic Operating Procedure' that allows for a tree to be planted in place of one that has been removed, but only upon the request of an adjacent property owner. If no request is made, no replacement tree is planted.
When asked by The Independent if he feels that the current municipal policy should be bolstered with an official tree planting program and bylaw, Greenfield indicated that he feels that the municipality is doing what it can.
“I see the need to have one,” said Greenfield, “I appreciate the value of trees, and it fits with the 'greening of Meaford', but I think what we do have is adequate.”
Greenfield says that the current program is running a full year behind schedule with 12 trees from the 2009 removal program scheduled to be replaced in 2010, and another 10 expected to be planted next year.
In 2009 the tree planting program in Orangeville saw 500 trees and shrubs planted.
