Saanich Urban Forest Strategy

Results measured in the 2009 District of Saanich Community Survey reveal that residents value the forests & trees in their community for a variety of reasons.

In order to sustain our Urban Forest as a community asset well into the future, the District of Saanich is formulating an URBAN FOREST STRATEGY.

"Urban Forest" is defined as ALL TREES in the community, both on MUNICIPAL and PRIVATE land. This includes those in large and small forest groves, in parks, along street boulevards and around public and private developments.

As part of the Urban Forest Strategy, we are encouraging residents to express their view on forest and tree issues. We would also like to know your "VISION" for the District's forest and tree landscapes as we manage into the future.

Please help this process by completing the following survey. You can also attend a Public Open House that will be held later this spring (date to be announced).

For more details please see www.saanich.ca

1. Name and/ or email address (for updates on the Urban Forest Strategy process):

Name and/ or email address (for updates on the Urban Forest Strategy process):

2. What COMMUNITY AREA do you live in?

What COMMUNITY AREA do you live in? Prospect Lake

Cordova Bay

Falaise

Beaver Lake and Westwood Vale

Royal Oak

Broadmead Area

Strawberry Vale

North Quadra

Portage Inlet Sanctuary / Colquitz Estuary

Gordon Head

Gorge Tillicum

Rainbow Park

Quadra / Cedar Hill

Mount Tolmie

Cadboro Bay

Camosun

Blenkinsop Valley

Mount View Colquitz

NOT SURE

Other (please specify)

3. What DO YOU VALUE MOST about the Urban Forest in Saanich?:

What DO YOU VALUE MOST about the Urban Forest in Saanich?:

4. Now, please take a moment to imagine your community THIRTY (30) years into the future.

IN YOUR OPINION, which of the following statements will describe the Urban Forest AT THAT TIME?:
(select all that apply)

Now, please take a moment to imagine your community THIRTY (30) years into the future. IN YOUR OPINION, which of the following statements will describe the Urban Forest AT THAT TIME?: (select all that apply) A continued source of community pride

Useful for retaining storm-water and absorbing air pollution

Well treed with a high percentage of treed areas

Sparsely treed with mostly cleared areas

Adapted to climate change

A healthy mix of young and old trees

Providing green corridors between natural areas

Valuable for biodiversity and wildlife habitat

Managed to be resilient to weather patterns

Reasonably safe and well managed

A thing of the past

Other (please specify)

5. In order to create that future Vision of our community trees and forest,
WHAT TOP 5 PRIORITIES would you select for managing trees and forests in the District today? (please select 5)

In order to create that future Vision of our community trees and forest, WHAT TOP 5 PRIORITIES would you select for managing trees and forests in the District today? (please select 5) More frequent tree tending (e.g. tree pruning and maintenance)

More areas of planting (e.g. in parks, roadsides and private developments)

More removal of trees (e.g. the creation of views, increased sky light)

Stricter regulation and enforcement of tree removals (e.g. private property, urban development, rogue cutting)

Protection of significant and heritage trees

Management of invasive species (e.g. holly, ivy, others)

Natural succession of the urban forest and trees (e.g. just left alone)

Management of rare and endangered ecosystems (e.g. Garry oak)

Ensure trees deemed unsafe /risky are removed /made safe (e.g. as recommended by a professional risk assessor)

Other (please specify)

6. Many things can affect the quality of urban trees and forest, both today and in the future.
IN YOUR OPINION, which of the following are /will become THREATS to your Vision of the urban forest in Saanich?

Many things can affect the quality of urban trees and forest, both today and in the future. IN YOUR OPINION, which of the following are /will become THREATS to your Vision of the urban forest in Saanich? Lack of variety in the age range of forest trees

Urban expansion with limited planting /re-planting initiatives

Insufficient funding to better manage urban forests

Invasive species

Greater area of treed lots being cleared (e.g. higher density housing; infill zoning)

Lack of regeneration /protection

Global warming /Climate change

Vandalism and illegal tree cutting

Lack of public awareness

Insufficient regulations /bylaws

All of the above

Other (please specify)

7. Residents have expressed an interest in being more involved in urban forest management within Saanich.
IN WHAT WAYS should residents have a larger role in urban forest management?

	YES	NO
Planting trees in parks and other public spaces	Residents have expressed an interest in being more involved in urban forest management within Saanich. IN WHAT WAYS should residents have a larger role in urban forest management? Planting trees in parks and other public spaces YES	NO
Watering new street trees on boulevards in front of their home	Watering new street trees on boulevards in front of their home YES	NO
Removing invasive species	Removing invasive species YES	NO
Restoring ecosystems to a more natural state	Restoring ecosystems to a more natural state YES	NO
Adopting areas to manage in cooperation with District operations	Adopting areas to manage in cooperation with District operations YES	NO
Providing related expertise on Advisory committees that offer opinion to Council & staff	Providing related expertise on Advisory committees that offer opinion to Council & staff YES	NO
Volunteering to help with the above	Volunteering to help with the above YES	NO

Other (please specify)

8. Management policies, most often approved in regulations and bylaws, provide for the protection and maintenance of trees and the urban forest in our community.

HOW FAMILIAR ARE YOU with the following municipal bylaws and regulations AS THEY AFFECT TREES AND URBAN FORESTS in our community?

	Very Familiar	Somewhat Familiar	Not at all Familiar
Tree Preservation Bylaw	Management policies, most often approved in regulations and bylaws, provide for the protection and maintenance of trees and the urban forest in our community. HOW FAMILIAR ARE YOU with the following municipal bylaws and regulations AS THEY AFFECT TREES AND URBAN FORESTS in our community? Tree Preservation Bylaw Very Familiar	Somewhat Familiar	Not at all Familiar
Park Tree Policy	Park Tree Policy Very Familiar	Somewhat Familiar	Not at all Familiar
Boulevards Management Bylaw	Boulevards Management Bylaw Very Familiar	Somewhat Familiar	Not at all Familiar
Parks Management & Control Bylaw	Parks Management & Control Bylaw Very Familiar	Somewhat Familiar	Not at all Familiar
Integrated Pest Management Policy	Integrated Pest Management Policy Very Familiar	Somewhat Familiar	Not at all Familiar
Streetscape Safety Projects Policy	Streetscape Safety Projects Policy Very Familiar	Somewhat Familiar	Not at all Familiar
Official Community Plan Bylaw	Official Community Plan Bylaw Very Familiar	Somewhat Familiar	Not at all Familiar
Subdivision Bylaw	Subdivision Bylaw Very Familiar	Somewhat Familiar	Not at all Familiar
Watercourse and Drainage Regulation Bylaw	Watercourse and Drainage Regulation Bylaw Very Familiar	Somewhat Familiar	Not at all Familiar

Do you have ANY COMMENTS about the tree management bylaws & regulations that you are familiar with?

9. Do you have OTHER IDEAS OR COMMENTS regarding the District of Saanich Urban Forest?

Do you have OTHER IDEAS OR COMMENTS regarding the District of Saanich Urban Forest?

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS SURVEY

1. Name and/ or email address (for updates on the Urban Forest Strategy process):

2. What COMMUNITY AREA do you live in?

3. What DO YOU VALUE MOST about the Urban Forest in Saanich?:

4. Now, please take a moment to imagine your community THIRTY (30) years into the future. IN YOUR OPINION, which of the following statements will describe the Urban Forest AT THAT TIME?:(select all that apply)

5. In order to create that future Vision of our community trees and forest,WHAT TOP 5 PRIORITIES would you select for managing trees and forests in the District today? (please select 5)

6. Many things can affect the quality of urban trees and forest, both today and in the future.IN YOUR OPINION, which of the following are /will become THREATS to your Vision of the urban forest in Saanich?

7. Residents have expressed an interest in being more involved in urban forest management within Saanich. IN WHAT WAYS should residents have a larger role in urban forest management?

8. Management policies, most often approved in regulations and bylaws, provide for the protection and maintenance of trees and the urban forest in our community. HOW FAMILIAR ARE YOU with the following municipal bylaws and regulations AS THEY AFFECT TREES AND URBAN FORESTS in our community?

9. Do you have OTHER IDEAS OR COMMENTS regarding the District of Saanich Urban Forest?

4. Now, please take a moment to imagine your community THIRTY (30) years into the future.

IN YOUR OPINION, which of the following statements will describe the Urban Forest AT THAT TIME?:
(select all that apply)

5. In order to create that future Vision of our community trees and forest,
WHAT TOP 5 PRIORITIES would you select for managing trees and forests in the District today? (please select 5)

6. Many things can affect the quality of urban trees and forest, both today and in the future.
IN YOUR OPINION, which of the following are /will become THREATS to your Vision of the urban forest in Saanich?

7. Residents have expressed an interest in being more involved in urban forest management within Saanich.
IN WHAT WAYS should residents have a larger role in urban forest management?

8. Management policies, most often approved in regulations and bylaws, provide for the protection and maintenance of trees and the urban forest in our community.

HOW FAMILIAR ARE YOU with the following municipal bylaws and regulations AS THEY AFFECT TREES AND URBAN FORESTS in our community?