As temperatures dip closer to freezing, the City of Ottawa Forestry Management Services is reflecting on its 2024 tree planting season.
A report commissioned by the National Capital Commission in 2019 championed Ottawa-Gatineau as the city with the most tree cover across Canada, with a tree canopy of 46 per cent. For Ottawa’s urban area, that number is 31 per cent.
But even with the head start, the city is not backing down on expanding this green shield that can serve as both a mitigation and adaptation measure against climate change, contributing to cleaner air and cooler temperatures.
Under the Urban Forestry Management Plan, the city created its Tree Planting Strategy to help move the city towards a 40 per cent urban tree cover. To succeed, the city says it is moving from a reactive to a proactive approach.
Forestry workers at the city put a great deal of planning into which tree species to plant where. Once a plan is mapped out, saplings are purchased which spend time growing at city nurseries. Once ready for planting, the trees are moved to their new locations.
The city reports that it takes approximately seven minutes to plant a tree, including digging the hole, removing the wire and burlap from the roots, and supplementing the planting with mulch and water.
“We’re a small group doing a lot,” Ashley Pauze, a forestry inspector at the city, said. “One group planting the whole city.”
But so far this small group has experienced a mighty success. In 2023, the City planted over 100,000 new trees. Similar results can be expected this year.
Moving into the cooler weather the work is not done. Throughout the winter season Pauze’s team will diligently inventory all the new trees to monitor new tree health.