Selkirk residents weigh in on tree strategy

Residents gathered at the Selkirk Recreation Complex one recent evening to learn more about the city’s plans for a long-term urban forest strategy aimed at protecting and expanding the community’s tree canopy.

The open house gave residents an opportunity to review work completed so far, ask questions and provide feedback on a strategy that city officials say will help guide the management of Selkirk’s trees over the next decade.

The project, which is being funded largely through grant support, is intended to build on years of tree planting, disease management and canopy protection efforts while helping the city prepare for the effects of climate change and urban growth.

City officials described the urban canopy as an important piece of public infrastructure, noting that trees provide more than aesthetic value. A healthy tree canopy can help reduce road deterioration by shielding pavement from prolonged exposure to heat and ultraviolet radiation, absorb stormwater during heavy rainfall, improve air quality and reduce temperatures during increasingly hot summers.

Mihali Schindle, Selkirk’s Manager of Climate Action and Environmental Services, said the strategy would establish a practical framework for maintaining and strengthening the city’s urban forest.

“Selkirk recognizes trees as critical infrastructure,” Schindle said. “They provide ecosystem services such as heat mitigation, stormwater management, improved air quality, increased biodiversity and enhanced quality of life.”

Schindle said the city also faces mounting challenges, including climate change, urban development, aging trees, invasive pests and disease.

“Selkirk’s new urban forest strategy will be a succinct and practical document that guides municipal decision-making, prioritizes equitable distribution of tree canopy and establishes measurable goals and actions to advance the city’s urban forestry service over the next 10 years,” he said.

The strategy was identified as a priority in the city’s Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and will bring together policies and programs already in place, including Selkirk’s street tree policy and existing tree inventory work.

According to Schindle, the project remains in its early stages, with consultants conducting research and technical analysis while gathering input from residents and stakeholders.

The review will examine the composition and distribution of the city’s tree canopy, assess the benefits it provides and identify areas where policies and management practices could be improved.

City officials said the work is especially important because of threats such as Dutch elm disease, which has killed hundreds of trees in recent years, as well as the growing risk posed by the invasive emerald ash borer.

Schindle said the strategy would help the city adopt a more proactive approach by encouraging greater species diversity and long-term succession planting.

He added that trees also play an important role in stabilizing riverbanks, reducing runoff, creating windbreaks and increasing access to shade throughout the community.

Information gathered during the open house will be analyzed over the coming months. A draft version of the strategy is expected to be completed in October before being presented to city council in December.

» Winnipeg Sun