A brief historical
perspective of urban forests in Canada
By Michael Rosen, R.P.F.
The limbs of a full grown bur oak tree spread widely. I
n recent years, a greater amount of interest has been in expressed in urban forests — partly as a result of increasing urbanization but also due to new threats
including the invasive insect, emerald ash borer. Urban forests in Canada have been dominated by three themes: superficial support by the provincial and federal govern- ments, individuals’ commitment to developing urban forests of excellence, and awareness and action fueled by natural disaster. Canada – Urban people in a forest nation
The world looks to Canada as a forest leader – and with
good reason. With 417.6 million hectares of forest (10 per cent of the world) Canada leads in many of the standard, industrial forestry measures: “timber-productive forest land”, “allowable annual cut”, “area burned by forest fire”
38 • Fall 2016
and “area of certified forest”. How disconcerting it can be to learn that well over 80
per cent of Canadians live in cities and towns — their connection to the forest coming not from national parks or “wilderness” but from their neighbourhood park, road- side trees and backyards. Within the forestry profession, “urban forests” are still regarded as a “specialty field”, possi- bly because of the depressing implication that trees are less seen as a “resource” and more as an entity to preserve and protect for solely environmental/social purposes. Canadians’ identification with trees can be found every-
where. The maple leaf adorns Canada’s flag and shield. Many communities’ names proudly commemorate an arboreal connection: “Oakville”, “Pointe-au-Chêne” and “Cedar”. Canadian urban forest advocacy groups: “Trees
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