Canada/Urban forest management plan to save Windsor's old-growth trees
On Wednesday, a committee will present a strategic management plan for Windsor's urban forest. The plan includes 62 recommendations over 20 years.
Recent reports have revealed that Windsor's trees cover 19% of the city, compared to between 20% and 30% in other cities across the province.
According to Statistics Canada, the amount of urban greenery in Windsor has dropped from 85% in 2011 to 56% in 2019.
Developed by Urban Forest Innovations Inc. the new plan will provide a better understanding of the region's trees, how to keep them healthy, and ways to expand forest cover.
The draft plan will be submitted to the city's Standing Committee on Community Services on Wednesday. If the committee recommends it, the plan will be submitted to the city council for approval and adoption.
Better care for the city's oldest trees
If approved, this will be the first plan of its kind for Windsor. It would allow us to better care for older specimens, because trees are so full of history," explains Windsor forester Yemi Adeyeye. The expert calls for protection of the city's oldest trees, including the White Elm, located on Bernard Road in the Fontainebleau district. According to the forester, this tree is probably over 100 years old.
The city's oldest trees also include silver maples on Cameron and Felix avenues, and a Norway maple on Place Randolph.
Mr. Adeyeye says that these advantages justify the development of a plan to better maintain the trees and keep them longer.
The expert recalls that the silver maple that was located on Saint-Louis Avenue in the east of the city was considered the oldest known street tree in Windsor, but it was felled in 2018.
It was quite large and quite sturdy. It felt surreal when you walked past it, so majestic is it.
A quote from Yemi Adeyeye, Windsor City Forester
A storm had damaged the tree and a subsequent assessment revealed that it was hollow, making it more vulnerable to collapse or injury.
Source: ici.radio-canada.ca/
