An oversight on a Wildsight Revelstoke request has been righted.
Last year, Wildsight asked council for a letter of support for the organization to apply for grant funding to purchase and plant trees at various locations throughout the city.
The letter noted the effect of increasingly hotter summers and Wildsight’s wish to help mitigate the effects of climate change by replicating the natural cooling system offered by the forests around the city.
UBC’s Faculty of Forests has been researching climate change in urban settings and has found that the best way to combat heat domes, air quality issues, the risk of interface forest fires, and lack of shade is an intensive effort to plant far more broadleaf (deciduous) trees in and around B.C.’s cities.
“Vancouver has created the Citizen’s Coolkit on Climate Change and Urban Forestry,” read the letter from Kent Christensen, President Wildsight Revelstoke. “We ask that in Revelstoke we model this plan for our citizens and reap the benefits as soon as possible by planting a great deal more trees in and around the urban core and all our neighbourhoods.”
Christensen pointed out that urban forests provide social, environmental and economic benefits, including reducing air pollution and providing oxygen, reducing the urban heat island effect and reducing the temperature of cities.
“Urban forests reduce buildings’ energy use, including heating and cooling, they improve water filtration, store water, and reduce stormwater runoff, can be a valuable local food source (and bear aware), and they help provide habitat for wildlife and help preserve biodiversity,” wrote Christensen, noting Wildsight has earmarked 10 locations for a total of 80 trees as listed on the City of Revelstoke website and recommended by landscape company Magpie and Larch. “Additionally, is the fact that deciduous, broadleaf trees, have known fire suppression values because they hold more moisture than coniferous trees.”
In April 2023, council referred Wildsight Revelstoke’s request to the city’s Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) for consideration. Somewhere along the way, the lines of communication were broken.
The matter was brought back to light at the Sept. 24 council meeting, following receipt of a letter from Wildsight branch board director Sarah J. Newton. As well as inquiring about possible council support, Newton provided a draft letter for council consideration.
Several apologies were expressed.
Coun. Tim Palmer added his support for Wildsight’s request and noted that in May 2023, the recommendation that came back from the committee was that council consider helping the organization.
“I’m very supportive of this and definitely apologize for the long delay,” added Coun. Aaron Orlando, noted his understanding was the same as that of Steve Black, director of Infrastructure and Planning. “It was before council but we might have missed it, and I want to make sure we’re not pinning this on staff.”
Mayor Gary Sulz expressed support for Wildsight’s request, particularly as the organization had consulted with the community and that the project costs would not be borne by taxpayers.
A motion to provide a letter of support to Wildsight for grant funding applications for the urban forest initiative project was carried unanimously.