Fact Check: Urban Forest Management Plan

Incorrect Statement: The Urban Forest Management Plan is not necessary as there are enough trees in Langford, and the recent presentation from the consultant working on the Plan confirms this.

Fact Check: The distribution of canopy cover across Langford is uneven. For example, 50% of South Langford is lacking canopy cover, while 81% of Langford’s City Centre is lacking canopy cover. As a result, Langford residents do not enjoy the same level of access to urban trees and their associated benefits, including improved air quality and reduced heat island effect. This uneven distribution, sometimes called canopy inequity, will affect Langford’s livability for residents with different demographic, social, and economic backgrounds. Older adults, for example, are often more vulnerable to extreme heat, and lower income households may not be able to afford home cooling systems.

The development of an Urban Forest Management plan will provide a clear direction for long-term urban forest management, build climate resiliency and address canopy inequity for residents as the City continues to grow at a rapid pace.

For details on the Urban Forest Management Plan including recordings of past presentations and reports, please see the list of resources linked below.

Resources:
Urban Forest Management Plan Project Page

April 15, 2024: Council Meeting Presentation by Diamond Head Consulting: “The State of Langford’s Urban Forest”. Video recording begins at 03:24 minutes

November 15, 2023: Open House Presentation