Communicating the Benefits of York Region s Urban Forest

Transcription

1 Communicating the Benefits of York Region s Urban Forest Latornell Symposium November 18, 2014 Barb Davies, York Region Lionel Normand, Toronto and Region Conservation

2 Presentation Overview Background Making it relevant Examples of Messaging Lessons Learned 2 2

3 Why Do Trees Matter? 3 Air Pollution Removal Property Value Grey Infrastructure Longevity UV Ray Protection Hospital Recovery Rates Heat Island Mitigation School Grades Pacify Drivers Climate Change Mitigation Stormwater Interception Community Cohesion Local Biological Diversity Outdoor Recreation Migratory Bird Habitat Carbon Sequestration 3

4 York Region s Vision 2051 Making the Connections The Vision 2051 Goal Areas and Action Areas are interrelated and connected to one another - together contributing to a holistic approach to a successful future for 2051 in York Region. Three Goal Areas: A Place Where Everyone Can Thrive Livable Cities and Complete Communities A Resilient Natural Environment and Agricultural System 4 4

5 Urban Forest Studies Field plots (i-tree Eco) Digital land cover map Markham Structure Function Cover Distribution 5 5

6 Technical Results Urban Forest Vaughan Richmond Hill Markham Aurora Structure Canopy Cover 17% 25% 18% 28% Leaf Area 336 km2 171 km2 216 km2 99 km2 Function Carbon Sequestration 13,040 t/yr 7,241 t/yr 9,089 t/yr 4,050 t/yr Pollution Removal 350 t/yr 184 t/yr 301 t/yr 93 t/yr Flow Reduction 1-3% (120, ,000 m3) 6 6

7 Communicating the Results Make the findings real for people in York Region. Develop messages to convey the value of York Region s urban forest. 7 7

8 Narrowing the Focus Specific environmental factors: Pollution Removal and Oxygen Production Reducing Urban Heat Island Effect Flow Reduction Specific locations: Roads and Highways Schools and Long-term Care Facilities 8 8

9 Four Questions What Matters to People? Are We There? Can or Did the Urban Forest Help? How to Get There? 9 9

10 Pollution Removal In the last decade between 281 and 328 good/very good air quality days occurred per year, meaning an average of 63 days out of 365 either moderate or bad air quality days. Air Quality Index 0-15 Very Good Good Moderate Poor 100+ Very Poor Colour In 2008 it is estimated that the existing urban forest gave 94 more good (and 10 more very good ) air quality days

11 Pollution Removal It is estimated that every 1% increase in urban forest cover could reduce the AQI reading by on average 0.3 points per day. For example, in 2008 increasing the urban forest cover from the current 19% to 29% would have resulted in 52 more very good air quality days for a total of 344 good/very good days out of

12 Oxygen Production It took 475 small trees to produce the oxygen breathed in by one person. However, the same could be accomplished by only 12 of the larger trees. There is enough urban forest today to produce oxygen for 203,000, or 26%, of the 775,551 residents

13 Bigger Trees Do More 13 13

14 Heat Island Effect Reduction 14 14

15 Heat Island Effect Reduction In August 2009, areas with 100% tree cover showed a land surface temperature of 10 0 C lower on average than areas with 100% exposed buildings. Land Cover Type (100% Cover) Trees 25 Grass and Shrubs 27 Bare Soil 29 Roads and Other Paved 32 Buildings 35 Average Surface Temperature ( 0 C) Based on August 2009 conditions, each 10% increase in tree cover up to 50% could result in a decrease of approximately C. Adding trees where they are most lacking has a greater relative benefit toward decreasing temperature than adding trees where they are already abundant

16 Flow Reduction There are many flood vulnerable areas in York Region and Toronto for which York Region has some level of responsibility. Erosion works cost Vaughan $890,000 in 2011 and cost Markham $2,536,000 from 2010 to

17 Flow Reduction Brampton neighbourhood simulation Mapped increase tree canopy from 17% to 40% Average 4% reduction in runoff volume and rate (SWMM) Increasing canopy in York Region neighbourhoods: Multiple benefits Municipality FSA Code Tree Canopy Cover (%) Markham L3R 19% Markham L3S 16% Markham L3T 32% Markham L6E 6% Markham L6G 14% Markham L6B 4% Markham L3P 35% Markham L6C 13% Richmond Hill L4B 18% Richmond Hill L4C 25% Richmond Hill L4E 19% Richmond Hill L4S 16% Vaughan L4J 14% Vaughan L4K 6% Vaughan L4L 11% Vaughan L4H 12% Vaughan L6A 10% Vaughan L0J 25% 17 17

18 Location Matters: Sidewalks People need or want to exercise, socialize and commute Urban forests help people enjoy the outdoors and stay safe: Aesthetics, UV ray shading, heat relief, better air quality, Trees canopy over sidewalks: 28% of local road 18% of major roads 18 18

19 Location Matters: Highways For drivers: Windbreak (snowdrifts), natural aesthetics For adjacent communities: Sound barrier, better air quality Less than 7% of the border along 400-series highways is treed 19 19

20 Location Matters: At Risk Populations Sun safety, mental health (aesthetics), grades, heat island, Of the 303 schoolyards: 128 have 5% canopy cover or less 67 have less than 1% Of the 67 long-term care facilities: 21 are less than 5% tree covered

21 Lessons Learned Communication starts at research design stages: first discuss how you will use the findings Know your partners: public health sector requires rigorous science behind messages 21 21

22 Thank you