City Trees is a premier publication focused on urban + community forestry. In each issue, you’ll learn how to best manage the trees in your community and more!
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/36513
We’ve made great strides in identifying the conditions that are necessary for successful tree growth within this challenging environment. Through improved tree plant- ing details, which include the use of precast components to construct continuous soil trenches, we are able to achieve better integration between trees and utilities. Working in collaboration with designers and engineers in other City divisions and utility companies, we have been able to elevate the status of trees. Trees are now considered green infrastructure and just as important to City life as other utility infrastructure such as hydro, gas, water, and telecommunications. Carefully controlled prescribed burns are part of Toronto Urban Forestry’s long-term management plan to restore and protect the City’s rare black oak (Quercus velutina) woodlands and savannahs. Toronto’s Ravines The ravines are to Toronto what canals are to Venice, hills are to San Francisco, and the Thames River is to London. They are the heart of the city’s emotional geography, and understand- ing Toronto requires an understanding of the ravines.–Robert Fulford, Accidental City, 1995 Natural areas make up approximately 13% of Toronto and almost half of the City’s parkland system. City Council understands that ravines and neighbouring woodlands are highly sensitive areas, acting as store- houses of water and vegetation. When the topography, water flow, or natural plant communities are altered, the ecology and functions of these natural features are affected. This impacts forest health, water quality, flood control, wildlife habitat, and natural linkages. For this reason, Toronto has enacted special protection for private property with these characteristics through the Ravine and Natural Feature Protection By-law, which is applicable to over 10,000 hectares (24,711 acres). Based on the field sampling conducted for our urban forestry study, Toronto has at least 116 different species of trees and over 114 species of shrubs. Approximately 64% of the trees are native to Ontario. Our level of spe- Map of Toronto Ravine and Natural Feature By-law Protected Area (greater than 11,000 ha/27,182 acres). Toronto covers 641 sq km (248 sq mi) and stretches 43 km (27 mi) wide from east to west and 21 km (13 mi) long from north to south. Fully 307 km (191 mi) of rivers and creeks run through the City and flow into Lake Ontario. 14 City Trees