ERIN – Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) is seeking support from the town for three tree planting projects.
The partnership proposal was presented to council on Sept. 12.
In addition, CVC is applying for a funding opportunity from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) Growing Canada’s Community Canopies (GCCC) initiative.
“Due to the grant’s eligibility criteria CVC requires municipal partners, therefore [they are] seeking council’s approval of the proposed partnership,” stated Erin deputy clerk Justin Grainger.
CVC has also requested support from Halton Hills and Caledon to fulfill this requirement.
The three projects include a community stewardship tree planting project, an urban home tree planting project and a forestry rural tree planting project.
The community stewardship project focusses on increasing the amount of tree planting across the Credit River Watershed.
It will involve a series of community tree plantings on municipal land to “naturalize parks and open spaces” and “establish urban woodlands,” stated officials.
“[The] projects provide opportunities for both community and town participation,” noted Grainger, referring to future tree planting events open to volunteers.
The urban home project focusses on growing the urban tree canopy, cooling the communities and creating “healthier, more livable towns and cities,” stated officials.
For those who may not know, an urban tree canopy is the layer of leaves, branches and stems of trees that cover the ground when viewed from above.
The third project will “increase tree planting efforts” on private lands within the countryside Greenbelt areas of the Credit River watershed.
CVC’s goal is to plant 3,000 additional trees on top of the planned 5,000 trees by 2026, stated officials.
Throughout the partnership the town will gain the opportunity to recommend municipally-owned lands within CVC’s regulated area for plantings, Grainger told council.
Town staff was notified of CVC’s intentions to submit applications to the GCCC on Aug. 12.
According to town officials, the initiative is administered by FCM and will provide $291 million in funding to support tree planting projects across Canada.
Grainger expressed staff’s support for the partnership and its “potential” to advance Erin’s “strategic priorities” related to climate change and environmental sustainability.
“Are the trees available for private citizens or will they be all on public lands?” asked councillor Bridget Ryan.
Grainger replied it will be a mix of both and two of the projects are for the “benefit” of private landowners.
Mayor Michael Dehn expressed a few concerns.
“We’re already having issues trying to locate enough locations for the trees we have to plant,” noted Dehn referring to the Elora Cataract Trail redevelopment.
“It’ll really be a necessity to use private land whenever possible to put more trees [in)], because the county has already offered up road allowances for certain trees.”
The partnership was approved by council, however it depends on the success of CVC’s grant applications. The funding decisions will be made approximately six months after the application submission. Staff will expect communication from CVC next spring.
