Selected Projects

Healing Trees: Recognizing the Value of Trees at CAMH

On behalf of the W. Garfield Weston Foundation, UFI was retained by Tree Canada – Arbres Canada to prepare a tree management plan and public education and outreach campaign for part of the historic Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) property in downtown Toronto. Called Healing Trees, this project applied the same successful framework for strategic planning that UFI has used in the development of municipal urban forest management plans, but scaled down to a site less than 1 hectare in area. The key deliverables for this project included a 10-year strategic urban forest management plan for the site, an informational brochure outlining the numerous mental health and healing benefits associated with trees, and a detailed arborist report with recommendations to address current conditions. In concert with Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds, UFI also participated in the planting of two high-quality shade trees and installation of two natural wood benches to provide a restful and restorative environment for all site visitors.

Strategic Urban Forest Management Plan

Following on the success of the Oakville UFMP, UFI and Beacon Environmental Ltd. were retained by the City of Burlington in 2009 to apply a similar 20-year strategic framework to the development of an urban forest management plan for this dynamic southern Ontario community. The project team developed an easy-to-read plan document for public outreach and communication as well as an in-depth technical document for use by City staff to guide day-to-day operations and long-term resource allocation and development planning. This plan presents a variety of best practices and research-based recommendations to promote the sustainability of Burlington’s urban forest resource, and will become a keystone in the City’s commitment to long-term environmental stewardship.

Tulip Tree Health & Risk Assessment

In August 2008, UFI was brought in by Parks Canada to assess the health and potential risk associated with the east stem of a uniquely co-dominant Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), planted in 1889 by John King – father of William Lyon Mackenzie King. Using PiCUS sonic tomography and tree-pulling to assess stem and uprooting safety on the Woodside tree, UFI determined that with special root zone therapy, pruning, and cabling, this beloved tree could be preserved in its current form for up to 20 more years. Through our tree risk assessment, UFI will play an instrumental part in preserving the memory of John King and his family at this unique, nationally-significant historic site.

Municipal Tree Risk Assessment

Over the course of several consultations from 2007 – 2009, UFI was requested to provide health and risk assessments for numerous significant trees in the City of Kitchener. The trees of concern all bordered roads slated for reconstruction in the near future. These trees, mostly Sugar maples (Acer saccharum) were assessed using the latest methodologies, including PiCUS sonic tomography to non-invasively inspect internal stem quality, tree-pulling to assess stem and uprooting safety, or a combination of the methods for trees suspected of possible failure. UFI was able to conclusively determine that the majority of these important large-stature trees, in spite of some outwardly-visible defects, were safe to retain and would contribute to the sustained provision of many urban forest-derived benefits well into the future. Additionally, UFI identified two trees for removal, ensuring the safety of residents and property, and decreasing potential liability of the City of Kitchener, Ontario.

Strategic Urban Forest Management Plan

From 2005 – 2008, Urban Forest Innovations Inc., in conjunction with Dr. Andy Kenney of the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Forestry and the Town of Oakville’s Forestry staff, developed and completed one of the most comprehensive urban forest management planning documents published to date. This Plan transformed a long-term vision for Oakville’s urban forest into a plan for on-the-ground action over a horizon of 20 years, incorporating key Criteria and Indicators of management success, adaptive management cycles, and a variety of analytical tools to improve the management of Oakville’s “Green Infrastructure” to a level above what was possible under the status quo.

Course Shade Tree Management Plan

In late 2004, UFI began a collaborative project with Dougan and Associates to update the 1993 Shade Tree Assessment Study for Lambton Golf and Country Club in Toronto, Ontario. UFI developed a comprehensive computer-based inventory of all the shade trees on Club grounds using the ISIMAN inventory system, developed in Germany for the effective collection and management of individual tree data. UFI also conducted a series of tree risk assessments, and using the latest assessment methodologies, identified numerous potential risk trees recommended for removal, thereby protecting the safety of Club members, staff and visitors. Using these same methods, several of the most significant trees on the course were found to be retainable and were thus spared from removal. Phase 2 of the project included the preparation of a 20-year Strategic Shade Tree Management Plan, which has been adopted by Club management to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of tree management across the Club grounds.

Tree Management Plan

St. George’s is a historic golf course within the greater Toronto area. It was originally designed by Stanley Thompson and completed in 1929. Since this time the course has become one of the top ranked golf courses in Canada. Urban Forest Innovations has been working with this course since 2006. Our work has included a detailed tree inventory and mapping of the course, preparation of a complete planting plan for long term implementation and the creation of a Tree Management Plan. St. George’s continues to be leader in the golf industry through their proactive work with their tree resources. Urban Forest Innovation is proud to continue to work with them to achieve their short and long term goals including hosting the prestigious Canadian Open Tournament in the summer of 2010.