Privately-Owned Tree Management Strategy

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Consultation has concluded

Draft Strategy and Background Reports 

Background

The Ontario Municipal Act requires municipalities to adopt and maintain policies to protect and enhance the tree canopy and vegetation. The Town of Halton Hills adopted a Tree Canopy & Natural Vegetation Policy in 2019 that included developing a strategy to manage privately-owned trees. In 2019, Council directed Town staff to develop a tree strategy to support the Town’s natural asset of a healthy tree canopy and contribute to the Town’s Climate Change declaration goal of becoming carbon neutral community by 2030.


What We Have Learned: 

Thank you Halton Hills for your feedback over the past two years in the development of the draft Privately-Owned Tree Management Strategy. The strategy reflects what we have heard from the community to support, maintain and strengthen the tree canopy of Halton Hills. We are pleased to share the strategy that identifies practical and reasonable actions that the Town and community residents can take to preserve, protect, and enhance the tree canopy of Halton Hills.

Through the development of the draft strategy, we have learned that 83% of the tree canopy in Halton Hills are on private lands. This reinforces that a continued collaborative approach is required to supporting and strengthening Halton Hills tree canopy.

Draft Documents to Review: 

The draft strategy consists of background knowledge, and practical recommendations. The components of the draft strategy include:

Appendix A - Explore Background Report - this is a fulsome report of the legislation that influence preserving, protecting, and enhancing trees in Ontario.

Appendix B – Engage Background Report consists of a summary of the engagement sessions in developing the draft strategy.

Appendix C - Example of a Private Tree Bylaw consists of required information in a bylaw and the recommendations to create a made-in-Halton Hills bylaw. This future bylaw is recommended to be considered after further public consultation.

Privately-Owned Tree Management Strategy Draft identifies 11 proposed tree management tools grouped into three categories: Education, Incentive and Regulation. The draft strategy identifies these tools with a range of resources and a multi-year workplan.

Direction through the draft strategy will enhance Halton Hills' environmental value of trees, assist in achieving goals outlined in the Town’s Climate Change Emergency Declaration, and contribute to the well-being of residents and quality of life in Halton Hills.

Please review the draft strategy and the draft background reports. If you would like to share a comment, please send to: jennifers@haltonhills.ca

Draft Strategy and Background Reports 

Background

The Ontario Municipal Act requires municipalities to adopt and maintain policies to protect and enhance the tree canopy and vegetation. The Town of Halton Hills adopted a Tree Canopy & Natural Vegetation Policy in 2019 that included developing a strategy to manage privately-owned trees. In 2019, Council directed Town staff to develop a tree strategy to support the Town’s natural asset of a healthy tree canopy and contribute to the Town’s Climate Change declaration goal of becoming carbon neutral community by 2030.


What We Have Learned: 

Thank you Halton Hills for your feedback over the past two years in the development of the draft Privately-Owned Tree Management Strategy. The strategy reflects what we have heard from the community to support, maintain and strengthen the tree canopy of Halton Hills. We are pleased to share the strategy that identifies practical and reasonable actions that the Town and community residents can take to preserve, protect, and enhance the tree canopy of Halton Hills.

Through the development of the draft strategy, we have learned that 83% of the tree canopy in Halton Hills are on private lands. This reinforces that a continued collaborative approach is required to supporting and strengthening Halton Hills tree canopy.

Draft Documents to Review: 

The draft strategy consists of background knowledge, and practical recommendations. The components of the draft strategy include:

Appendix A - Explore Background Report - this is a fulsome report of the legislation that influence preserving, protecting, and enhancing trees in Ontario.

Appendix B – Engage Background Report consists of a summary of the engagement sessions in developing the draft strategy.

Appendix C - Example of a Private Tree Bylaw consists of required information in a bylaw and the recommendations to create a made-in-Halton Hills bylaw. This future bylaw is recommended to be considered after further public consultation.

Privately-Owned Tree Management Strategy Draft identifies 11 proposed tree management tools grouped into three categories: Education, Incentive and Regulation. The draft strategy identifies these tools with a range of resources and a multi-year workplan.

Direction through the draft strategy will enhance Halton Hills' environmental value of trees, assist in achieving goals outlined in the Town’s Climate Change Emergency Declaration, and contribute to the well-being of residents and quality of life in Halton Hills.

Please review the draft strategy and the draft background reports. If you would like to share a comment, please send to: jennifers@haltonhills.ca