That the Corporate and Finance Services Committee recommend to City Council:
Whereas, the City’s tree canopy has been heavily impacted by extreme weather (drought, wind, ice storms), hotter temperatures, disease (pine wilt) and invasive species (emerald ash borer); and,
Whereas, these challenges combined with an aging canopy are impacting the resiliency of the City’s urban tree canopy and limiting its effectiveness to respond to the needs of a changing climate; and,
Whereas, trees are an appreciating asset and play a critical role in mitigating impacts of climate change by cleaning our air, lowering average temperatures to reduce the impacts of extreme heat events, and capturing stormwater runoff to help minimize flooding; and,
Whereas, staff have identified a number of areas within greenspaces, natural areas and along rural roads where reforestation and enhancement plantings would help ensure that the City’s urban tree canopy is diverse in not only species but age thereby safeguarding the resiliency of our urban forest into the future; and,
Whereas, In 2019, the Government of Canada committed to supporting governments and organizations in planting an additional two billion new trees over the next 10 years as a broader approach to nature-based climate solutions, with the goal of achieving significant carbon sequestration, GHG reductions, habitat restoration, biodiversity and increased human well-being and environmental co-benefits; and,
Whereas, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has launched an ongoing call for proposals through the 2 Billion Trees (2BT) program that aims to put into place financial assistance agreements with proponents to motivate and support new tree planting projects; and,
Whereas, eligible applicants/recipients include:
- a municipal or local government or one of their agencies, or a regional municipal organization;
- a not-for profit organization, registered in Canada, such as a charity, volunteer, community, professional, industry or other association, land conservation or non-government organization;
- a for-profit organization (legally incorporated or registered in Canada);
- an organization looking to be a project aggregator and coordinate collective tree planting action by various participants from across a specific region; and,
Whereas, applicants for all tree planting funding streams should demonstrate proven capacity to:
- manage tree planting projects successfully;
- plant the right tree in the right place;
- support the 2BT program’s goal of planting diverse tree species;
- monitor tree survival and report on project outcomes;
- demonstrate compliance with applicable health and safety protocols; and,
Whereas, NRCan has identified an Urban/Suburban Stream within the 2BT program that supports projects in and around population centres including urban planting/riparian zone work, planting in parks and conservation areas, and other tree planting projects focused on supporting ecosystem improvements and resident needs; and,
Whereas, this Stream allows for planting to occur, as long as the average number of trees planted per calendar year is equal to or greater than 10,000 (January to December) across multiple sites in and around urban areas, population centres or communities, with NRCan encouraging collaborative project proposals in order to meet the criteria of the funding; and,
Whereas, the 2BT program is a merit-based competitive process that first assesses whether projects meet the mandatory eligibility criteria, and then will undergo a robust evaluation process to determine if the project meets the goals and adheres to the principles, including the requirement for project completion by March 31, 2031; and,
Whereas, the Region of Durham, other area municipalities, colleges and universities, and other agencies such as local conservation authorities, LEAF and Trees for Life have approached the City to participate in a partnership application in order to meet the planting criteria under the Urban/Suburban Stream; and,
Whereas, City staff attended a launch meeting where Trees for Life proposed to coordinate application for a multi-year project (2024 to 2028) on behalf of the Durham Region partners; and,
Whereas, for the purposes of this grant, Trees for Life would assume the role of aggregator which includes administration, distribution of funds and signing of funding agreements for projects and activities that align with the program; and,
Whereas, Trees for Life is a charitable organization that works with community partners across Canada to plant trees in communities and were involved in the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign as well as being successful to funding through the 2BT program in 2021; and,
Whereas, this partnership would allow the City to leverage the skills and resources in the completion of the application while also collaborating with other agencies and municipalities across Durham Region to complete the planting projects; and,
Whereas, Trees for Life will compile details from each partner agency (listed above) related to their specific planting projects and cost sharing ability in order to determine if the collaboration would be viable prior to submitting an application by April 13, 2023; and,
Whereas, it is expected that notification of the funding would be received in October 2023 allowing the multi-year planting project to begin in 2024; and,
Whereas, staff propose a reforestation project in which the funding would assist with the planting of 2,500 trees per year over 5 years for a total of 12,500 trees within greenspaces, creek corridors and along rural roads; and,
Whereas, the funding would allow staff to expand efforts, resources and attention into the City’s valuable natural spaces; and,
Whereas, the estimated cost of the proposed reforestation planting project is $155,000 per year; and,
Whereas, the maximum NRCan contribution for eligible projects is 50% of eligible expenditures; and,
Whereas, should the partnership application proceed and be successful in receiving the funding, the City can fund their 50% share of the project budget through uncommitted funds in the Operations Reserve for a total of $387,500 ($77,500 per year from 2024 to 2028);
Therefore, be it resolved:
- That a budget of $77,500 annually from 2024 to 2028 to be funded from the Operations Reserve for the City’s share of the 2BT program be approved; and,
- That the City’s collaboration with Trees For Life for the submission of Oshawa’s tree planting project in the application to the 2 Billion Trees program for a total amount of $387,500 ($77,500 per year from 2024 to 2028) be approved; and,
- That a letter of support be provided to Trees For Life to demonstrate the City’s commitment to the project and funding.