Last week, David Suzuki wrote an interesting article for The Georgia Straight. It outlines some of the struggles faced by the urban forest in cities across Canada.
While the new federal government has promised to fix and improve infrastructure across the country, we have to find ways to make our infrastructure last longer. Planting trees in urban areas is a simple and inexpensive way to do this.
Having a healthy and large urban forest helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to adapt to rising temperatures, and to make us feel healthier (as studied by Faisal Moola with the David Suzuki Foundation). Further, an urban forest helps to protect infrastructure like buildings, sidewalks, and roads from the elements. Green infrastructure also provides more for the future, as it increases in value over time and grows, unlike grey infrastructure, which deteriorates over time.
Because of the changing climate and invasive species like the Emerald Ash Borer, the urban forests in many cities are suffering. The responsibility for caring for these trees falls to various groups and levels of government, and can often fall by the wayside. More regulations and standards from higher levels of government would help municipalities and groups better manage their urban forests and natural infrastructure.
As we focus on improving our infrastructure in the future, we also need to focus on improving our natural infrastructure and urban forest. Don’t take our green spaces for granted!
For the whole article, visit The Georgia Straight.