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Annual Report
2001/2002
INTRODUCTION
AND OVERVIEW
The first ten
months of the Ottawa Forests Advisory Committee's (OFAC) existence
may justly be described as one of major organizational progress
and solid achievement despite much uncertainty, growing pains and
a major unexpected diversion.
OFAC has made
substantial contributions to city policy on trees and forests by
providing written submissions on:
- Preliminary
Drafts of the Ottawa Official Plan
- Interim Measures
to Control Tree Cutting
- Quarry Forest
- Rezoning
of Carp Ridge Natural Environment Area "A"
- Development
Proposals on Ogilvie Road, Walkley Road
- Ottawa Forests
Awareness Day
Members of
the committee participated in discussions toward:
- Woodland
Preservation Bylaw
- Woodland
Assessment Study
- Resolution
of the Kanata "tree massacre"
- Preparation
of a rare plant inventory of Torbolton Forest
- Management
of community forests
OFAC has also
established a City of Ottawa presence among forestry organizations
by organizing a symposium on the urban forest, "Urban Forests: Challenges
and Opportunities," by participating in the Eastern Ontario Model
Forest, the national Urban Forest Conference, the Eastern Ontario
Urban Forest Network and National Forest Week, and the Kemptville
Winter Woodlot Conference, and by inviting speakers to monthly meetings.
OFAC has also
increased public awareness of our urban and rural forests through
- Website,
www.ottawaforests.ca
- Pamphlet
- Newspaper
articles
- Interviews
on radio and television
- Public displays
at local events and the Museum of Nature
- Public workshop
to be held in October 2002
- Citizen presentations
at monthly meetings.
These tasks
were accomplished in the face of frequent personnel changes, both
internally and externally. OFAC was established in October 2001
with 12 members. Two resigned in May and five new members were appointed
in August for a total of 15 members plus two additional reserve
members. At the first meeting, Robin Higham was elected Chair and
Joanna Dean Vice-chair. Three months later, in January 2002, this
structure was changed to one of two Co-chairs, with Joanna Dean
and Ronald Daigle occupying the positions. Iola Price replaced Ronald
Daigle as Co-chair in August 2002. OFAC's primary liaison with City
staff and the Council is through the Committee Coordinator. Over
the period October 2001 to September 2002, OFAC has had six Coordinators,
culminating with the appointment of Robbie Tremblay in June.
OFAC's work
was interrupted in mid June, when members were informed of a staff
proposal to amalgamate the OFAC with the Environmental Advisory
Committee. The need to address this issue caused a diversion in
time and energy from productive work. By decision of Council on
August 28, 2002 this issue has been deferred to the end of the current
term of Council, at which time there will be a full review of all
advisory committees.
WORK PLAN
AND BUDGET
OFAC first
met on October 28, 2001, and was mandated to prepare its first work
plan before the end of November. This deadline, and the lack of
guidelines as to budget, allowable expenditures and activities,
made planning difficult. A subcommittee was formed and proposed
a work plan based on its mandate:
"The
mandate of the Ottawa Forests Advisory Committee is to provide advice
and guidance to Ottawa City Council, through the Environmental Services
Committee, which will help safeguard the environment of the City
through the use of trees and tree cover, and provide input into
tree and forest management related policies and budgets. The Committee
will also encourage and support promotion of public awareness of
the City's trees and forests and citizen's knowledge of the role
of trees in protecting and enhancing quality of life."
A budget of
$8,900 was proposed. (Staff later added additional funding for simultaneous
translation services for a public forum. This addition, which increased
the final proposed budget to $15,800, was removed by OFAC when we
were informed of alternate methods for delivery of a bilingual public
forum.) OFAC discussed and approved its workplan on November 19,
2001.
As the work
plan states
"In
this first year of its existence the OFAC considers it should concentrate
on a few basic objectives. If these can be achieved they will be
the advisory committee's most useful initial contributions to Council
and citizens of Ottawa in the quest for adequate and appropriate
forests and tree cover throughout the new City in the coming years.
The work plan for 2002 therefore focuses largely on broad objectives
such as providing advice, acting as a sounding board, and advocating
for the restoration, conservation and sustainable management of
Ottawa forests. These objectives are, in turn, aimed at the following
long-term goals:
- A comprehensive
Ottawa Forests Plan;
- A tree
and vegetative cover for the city which is appropriate in species
mix and varied according to location;
- A dynamic
and effective partnership among individuals, community groups,
organizations and agencies in the development and conservation
of Ottawa forests and tree cover."
On January
22, 2002 OFAC presented its proposed work plan and budget to the
Environmental Services Committee (ESC), which approved the work
plan in principle but deferred funding until the 2002 City budget
deliberations. In March 2002, City Council approved an amount of
$150,000 to be divided among all the advisory committees; on April
23, 2002, the ESC allocated OFAC $8,823 to carry out its activities.
OFAC's fiscal year effectively started on that day.
WORK PLAN
ACTIVITIES
1.0 Ottawa
Forest Plan
1.1 Inventories
- Discussions
with University of Toronto and University of Guelph professional
forestry staff on matters relating to optimal tree cover and best
practices for inventories of urban and rural tree cover.
- Pilot evaluation
of a rapid street tree inventory method by OFAC members and a
professional forester.
- Discussions
with the Ottawa Girl Guides on their past activities conducting
tree inventories.
1.2 Pilot
Projects
- In connection
with the assessment of the possibilities and costs of developing
comprehensive plans, members investigated the prospects for community
support through consultation on a pilot project.
1.3 Network
with Related Groups
- Participation
in the formation and development of the Eastern Ontario Urban
Forest Network. OFAC attended three meetings in Kemptville to
establish operating procedures and to exchange information and
expertise with representatives from various municipalities including
Brockville, Cornwall, Gananoque and Perth.
- Participation
in ongoing discussions concerning the development of generic information
themes and materials for use by the Eastern Ontario Model Forest.
The Model Forests' renewed mandate now includes a requirement
to focus on urban forest issues. The OFAC has been invited to
join the network's steering group.
- Participation
in a working group to identify and select agenda topics for the
5th Canadian Urban Forest Conference to be held in Markham, Ontario
October 7 - 9. Ottawa's City Forester will be one of the presenters
at this conference and one member of the OFAC has volunteered
to attend this major event and deliver a report to the committee
on his return.
- Attendance
at and participation in Kanata Community Association meetings
held to discuss the aftermath of the "tree massacre".
Presentations
by the following have been made at OFAC meetings:
- Ottawa-Carleton
Wildlife Centre
- Canadian
Forestry Association
- Eastern Canada
Society of Nut Growers
- Ruffed Grouse
Society
- Greenspace
Alliance
- Rideau Valley
Conservation Authority
2.0 The
Official Plan
2.1 Input
to the Official Plan
Recommendations
- Written submission:
Comments and Recommendations on Ottawa 2020:Charting A Course,
February 25, 2002.
- Participation
in Ottawa 2020 Open Houses.
- Written submission
and presentation to the Committee-of-the-Whole in response to
the release of Charting a Course: The Next Step, June 2002.
2.2 Tree
Cover
- Provision
of information about the percent tree cover in Ottawa to Councillor
Wendy Stewart
- Provision
of reference material to Ottawa 2020 staff on benchmarks for tree
cover and measurement of forest management success at request
of Councillor Jacques Legendre
2.3 Partners
Forum
- OFAC's first
significant public event, held in May 2002 was organized in collaboration
with the Canadian Institute of Forestry (Ottawa Valley Section)
and with financial assistance from ScotiaMcleod Inc. The symposium
- "Urban Forests: Challenges and Opportunities" was designed to
permit 60 expert and engaged individuals from Council, City Staff
and the environmental and land development communities to engage
in knowledgeable discussion of issues associated with environmental
(particularly forest) protection in a period of urban growth.
Andrew Kenney, professor of urban and community forestry at the
University of Toronto provided the keynote address after which
differing perspectives on the symposium's theme were provided
by a panel of experts in several fields. There then followed a
lively and well-informed exchange of views and comments from the
audience.
3.0 Public
Outreach
3.1 Community Outreach
- OFAC Website
- OFAC Pamphlet
- Torbolton
Forest tour and workshop - January 2002. Coverage of the tour
and OFAC objectives appeared in the Ottawa Citizen.
- Monthly column
on trees and their value for the Rockcliffe Park Residents Association
Newsletter
- Environmental
Advisory Committee Workshop, at City Hall in March 2002. A display
was assembled with information on urban and community forests
in Ottawa. Several OFAC members actively participated in the breakout
groups at the EAC event, providing a tree and forest perspective
to the broader environmental focus.
- Torbolton
Forest Cleanup, April 2002: Mounted a display on community forests.
- Participation
in the National Forest Week Working Group in planning National
Forest Week activities in the National Capital Region, including
the evening public lecture held at the Museum of Nature - May
8, 2002.
3.2 Education
and Support Public Awareness
- OFAC requested
a Council declaration of May 4, 2002 as Ottawa Forests Awareness
Day;
- Kemptville
Winter Woodlot Conference: Maps, charts, photographs and pamphlets
were assembled to inform the participants from rural Ottawa of
the environmental and economic benefits of properly managed forests
in their area.
- Community
display for the Museum of Nature, June 2002: Prepared an exhibit
on trees and forests and their value in the urban setting.
3.3 Public
Forum
- Preparation
for a public forum in October 2002 (in the former Vanier City
Hall located adjacent to the Vanier Sugarbush) to increase awareness
of urban forest issues in the community. This will also be an
occasion to receive public input to the Official Plan on tree-related
matters.
OFAC's mandate
also includes the requirements to provide "a forum for citizens
interested in trees and tree cover to raise issues and concerns."
In this regard, OFAC received presentations at its meetings from
the following:
- Private citizen
concerned about the removal of mature trees prior to the renovation
of a private house in residential downtown Ottawa.
- Private citizen
with a report on the microburst that destroyed many trees in Fallowfield
Village.
- Private citizens
from Perez Crescent concerned about the loss of tree cover on
the proposed development at 1298 Ogilvie Road [City File No. OCP
2002-0012; OZP 2002-055, OSP 2002-0105].
ADVICE TO
COUNCIL
OFAC also participated
in a broad range of other activities that could not be anticipated
at the time the work plan was created. Most fall under that part
of the OFAC mandate to provide advice and guidance to Council on
safeguarding the environment of the City through the use of trees
and tree cover and to provide input into tree and forest management
related policies and budgets.
Kanata Tree
"Massacre" and ensuing Tree Preservation Bylaw
- Participation
in Kanata Community Association meetings held to discuss the aftermath
of the "tree massacre".
- Motion for
Council to support a staff inquiry into the creation of a tree
cutting by-law that recognizes a need for distinction between
the urban and rural context.
- Attendance
at the Kanata Recreational Master Plan meeting.
- Written submission
on the staff report, Interim Measures to Control Tree Cutting
and to Develop a Trees Bylaw.
- OFAC representation
on the working committee to develop the new tree bylaw (Woodland
Preservation Bylaw) by request of the Planning and Development
staff
Harmonization
of Service Standards
- Participation
in Open Houses (phases 1 and 2) on the Harmonization of Service
Standards, including criteria for services that touch on tree
and forest issues.
Assessment
of Urban Woodlands
- Representation
on the steering committee that will re-evaluate criteria for the
assessment of urban woodlands, by request of Planning and Development
staff.
Budget 2002
- Input to
the 2002 City budget discussions.
Motion for
Council
- Support of
the Eastern Ontario Model Forest's Phase III proposal to the Canadian
Forest Service.
Planning
and Development Proposals
- Carp Ridge
Rezoning: Written submission; Comment on Proposed Rezoning of
Carp Ridge Natural Environment Area 'A' in the South March Community.
- Quarry Forest:
OFAC review of the Quarry Forest Report, referred by Councillor
Janet Stavinga; Memorandum and talking points presented to Council
on the Quarry Forest Report. [City File No. ASC 2002-DEV-APR-0127
06T 99029 Block J]
- 1298 Ogilvie
Road: Investigation and report on loss of tree cover associated
with a proposed development at 1298 Ogilvie Road. [City File No.
OCP 2002-0012; OZP 2002-055, OSP 2002-0105]
- Walkley Road:
Comments on proposal for site on Walkley Road. [City File No.
OZP 2002-0113]
- Constance
Creek: Investigation of tree loss caused by a development in Constance
Creek and its possible violation of the City's planning process.
[City File No. OLV 2002-0024 West Carleton].
- Frieman Woods:
Comments on ways to preserve trees and enhance tree cover input
to Environmental Advisory Committee report. [City File No. OSP
2002-0021, OVL 2002-004, OSP 2002-0028].
Community
Forests
- Torbolton
Forest: preparation of material for a rare plant inventory.
- Marlborough
Forest: advice to City staff in regard to a request from a commercial
enterprise to continue using the forest for paintball games.
- OFAC member
liaison to staff for Torbolton and Marlborough Community Forests.
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