COQUITLAM, B.C., April 29, 2024 – The City of Coquitlam is encouraging the community to get involved and share feedback to help shape its first Urban Forest Management Strategy.
When complete, the Urban Forest Management Strategy will guide the management and protection of Coquitlam’s urban forest for the long-term benefits it will provide to the community.
The development of this strategy was identified as a priority on the City’s Business Plan, and was also a priority action item identified in the Environmental Sustainability Plan. It also aligns with the goals of the Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan and will complement the Climate Action Plan, currently under development.
Feedback from the public will be combined with technical analysis, urban forest best practices, other approved City plans and strategies, staff expertise and Council direction to create an Urban Forest Management Strategy that reflects the community’s aspirations and priorities for Coquitlam’s urban forest, while balancing the demands of a growing community required to meet Provincial housing targets. The Strategy will consider the unavoidable impacts of development with specific and achievable recommendations, including tree planting strategies and ways to enhance existing forested areas.
Opportunities to Learn More, Share Thoughts and Ask Questions
From now until May 31, interested members of the public are invited to visit LetsTalkCoquitlam.ca/UrbanForest to learn more about this project and participate in the engagement through:
- A 15-minute Community Survey: to obtain participants’ input on the aspects of the urban forest that are important to them and their vision and priorities for Coquitlam’s urban forest in the next 30 years, including what role the community can play in helping to support tree health.
- A mapping tool: to identify places in Coquitlam where participants value the urban forest and places where they would like to see improvements. People will be able to see places submitted by others.
- Pop-up events: find locations, dates and times to visit a pop-up and learn more about this project, share feedback, ask questions and talk directly with staff.
What is an Urban Forest?
An urban forest consists of all trees, forests, vegetation and soils in our City. This includes those on private land such as in our yards, as well as on public lands such as in parks and along streets.
The urban forest is vital to Coquitlam’s character and provides many important benefits including supporting biodiversity, improving air quality, cooling urban heat islands and providing high-value recreation opportunities.
Coquitlam Tree Facts
Coquitlam is dedicated to supporting a vibrant urban forest on public and private land throughout the community. This happens through proactively managing parks, natural areas, street trees and ongoing habitat restoration. We deliver a range of public education initiatives focused on the benefits of trees for the community and environment such as planting events with schools, tree tours, pruning workshops, etc.
Coquitlam’s commitment to our urban forest is reflected through significant initiatives such as the Environmental Sustainability Plan, upcoming Citywide Urban Forest Management Strategy, Climate Action Plan, Tree Spree (where we planted or gave away more than 10,000 trees in 2022), continual habitat restoration and protection of parks and dedicated green spaces. To learn more, view the Coquitlam Tree Facts infographic or visit coquitlam.ca/trees.
About Coquitlam’s Urban Forest Management Strategy
The City of Coquitlam is developing an Urban Forest Management Strategy to guide the protection and management of its urban forest over the next three decades. Recognizing the pivotal role the urban forest plays in fostering biodiversity, climate resilience and sustainability, the City intends to establish a comprehensive strategy that includes:
- Evaluating the current conditions of Coquitlam’s urban forest;
- Establishing a community-supported urban forest vision and goals;
- Providing guidance and strategic actions to grow, manage, and protect the City’s urban forest.
The Urban Forest Management Strategy will be developed over four phases from fall 2023 to early 2025. The Strategy will include short-, medium-, and long-term actions and recommendations for implementation over the next 30 years. Learn more at LetsTalkCoquitlam.ca/UrbanForest.
Media contact:
Erin Gorby
Urban Forestry and Park Services Manager
egorby@coquitlam.ca
We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (HUN-kuh-MEE-num) word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-KWET-lum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the q̓ic̓əy̓ (kat-zee), and other Coast Salish Peoples.