Urban Forest Management Strategy

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Consultation has concluded

Trees lining a street in a residential neighbourhood

We’ve finalized the Urban Forest Management Strategy which provides a clear direction for the future management of trees in Surrey.

How you helped. 

Your input helped us understand what role you want the City to play in improving, protecting, and maintaining the health of our urban forest. It also identified ways for the broader community to help.

What is the urban forest?

It is all of the trees and other vegetation in the City, on public and private land. It includes trees in parks, on boulevards, and on private residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial property.

Trees lining a street in a residential neighbourhood

We’ve finalized the Urban Forest Management Strategy which provides a clear direction for the future management of trees in Surrey.

How you helped. 

Your input helped us understand what role you want the City to play in improving, protecting, and maintaining the health of our urban forest. It also identified ways for the broader community to help.

What is the urban forest?

It is all of the trees and other vegetation in the City, on public and private land. It includes trees in parks, on boulevards, and on private residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial property.

Consultation has concluded

Do you have a question about the Urban Forest Management Strategy? We would be happy to respond to your question and will get back to you within a week.

Read our Moderation Policy to ensure your question meets our engagement etiquette and rules.

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    When an Urban Forest Management strategy is finalized, how does Surrey's council be held accountable for approving things that continue to prioritize developers and ignore any need for trees? Is there a requirement for them to abide by the strategy?

    Graeme asked over 2 years ago

    Our vision of a thriving, green, inclusive city will continue to be the priority for Council. The Urban Forest Management Strategy, along with other City and regional strategic plans, will be used by Council to guide the growth of our City.

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    When promising to re-plant as many trees as have been removed to build a Government project, and the trees planted are not the same type as what was torn down and most of them die off and are not replaced, how are we to have any confidence in Surrey's Forest Management? We have told the City numerous times over many years and nothing has been done. What do we do now?

    Diane K asked over 2 years ago

    Hi Dianne,

    Surrey’s Tree Protection Bylaw states that all Bylaw protected trees that are permitted for removal must be replaced. Two (2) trees must be replanted for each one (1) tree that is removed. The exception to this is black cottonwood and red alder trees which are located outside of a riparian area. The replacement tree ratio for black cottonwood and red alder trees which are located outside of riparian areas is 1:1.

    In situations where replacement trees are not able to be planted (typically due to lack of space), $550 per replacement tree is collected by the City as cash-in-lieu. These funds are used for tree planting and tree care on public land.

    Our Parks team has a comprehensive tree planting and maintenance program. We undertake careful planning to ensure the right tree species are planted in the right locations to achieve long term growth. Newly planted trees on roads and boulevards are watered and maintained for up to seven years. This includes a comprehensive pruning program with the goal of developing more structurally sound trees that are less likely to fail as they mature. Despite these best efforts, unfortunately sometimes trees are lost to drought and other factors. When this occurs, corrective actions are completed where possible to ensure the survival of trees planted in their place.

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    Why not focus on planting fruit trees inside the city and gardens such as olive trees, oranges, chestnuts and hazelnuts, which are evergreen trees and live in the moderate climate enjoyed by the city of Surrey. These trees only need a system to drain the excess water in the soil. These trees provide sources of food and entertainment for the population.?

    MOHAMAD asked over 2 years ago

    Hi Mohamad,

    The City hosts annual tree sales which provide residents the opportunity to purchase quality trees – including many varieties of fruit trees - at an affordable price which they can plant on their property. 

    The City also supports community garden groups with the planting and maintenance of fruit trees on park land. Community gardens are ideal locations for fruit trees because of the community support needed to help with the higher level of maintenance that they require and to ensure that ripe fruit is picked promptly.