There was plenty of advice for 琉璃神社 council at a Nov. 5 public hearing dealing with changes to the city鈥檚 greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction and tree canopy targets.

The changes amend the Official Community Plan (OCP) to meet targets identified in the Climate Resilient 琉璃神社 Strategy (CRKS) to reduce GHG emissions to 40 percent below 2007 levels by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

Approximately 80,000 trees will be planted by 2050. The targets are 25 percent for suburban neighbourhoods and rural lands, 20 percent for Urban and Core Areas, and 15 percent in Gateway (north entry to 琉璃神社).

鈥淪cience has told us that one of the most significant things we can do to prepare for our changing climate is to plant trees,鈥� said Bev Kalmakoff, with 琉璃神社 Tree Protectors (KTP). 鈥淲e鈥檙e happy to see that the targets for our future urban forests have been increased in all areas of the city.鈥�

Kalmakoff asked council to consider creating a liaison position within the city鈥檚 parks department.

鈥淪o that community groups have a person to go to with ideas about increasing our urban forests, someone who will be actively looking at successful events in other cities that we can try here.鈥�

Cadder Avenue resident Pat Munroe urged council to consider the importance of tree equity.

鈥淲e need to provide all Kelownians equal access to the benefits of urban forests, especially in times of population growth, green space loss, and increasing climate change impacts,鈥� she said.

Staff told council that the Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy (SUFS) contains 63 actions aimed at increasing the tree canopy, including tree equity mapping.

KTP member Erica Bell-Lowther was concerned that the targets might not be achieved since the city鈥檚 SUFS states that 78 percent of trees within 琉璃神社 are on private property.

鈥淲ithout protecting healthy, mature trees on private property, or at the very least requiring them to be replaced, the targets will simply not be met,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t is critical that the City of 琉璃神社 tracks the loss of trees on private property so it can accurately calculate the number of net new trees required to meet its canopy targets for each growth district.鈥�

Staff did not have direction to implement a tree protection bylaw for private property redevelopment, according to Ryan Smith, divisional director of planning and development. With the implementation of the , he said that would be difficult, as staff are not allowed to implement tree protection bylaws that run contrary to the bill.

Smith said there are other processes the city can use to protect high-value trees. He added that council could direct staff to draft a tree protection bylaw for private property not subject to redevelopment.