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Forestry Profile
To promote and preserve a sustainable urban forest through species diversity, tree-health management, professionalism, and community awareness.
Mandate: Bylaw 15-125 To Regulate Trees on or Affecting Public Property, and Tree Preservation and Sustainability Policy.
- Increase the City’s tree canopy coverage to over 35%;
- Protect the City’s highways (roadways and public spaces as per Municipal Act, 2001 (64)), and those using the highways through maintenance of trees on or affecting the highways; and
- Regulate and/or prohibit the destruction or injury of public trees.
Pursuant to the Forestry Section’s Mandate above we: plant a diverse range of tree species; operate a tree trimming/maintenance program above industry basic-standard; manage a development plan review and tree removal permit process; engage in public outreach programs to educate the public on the value of trees; hire professionals trained in Arboriculture; and strive for excellent customer service.
Activities provided by the City of Hamilton Forestry Section:
- Street Tree Trimming/maintenance
- Removal of Dead, Diseased, or Dangerous Trees and Stumps in Public Spaces
- Plant Trees in the Public Right-of-Way and other Public Spaces
- Operate a 24-hours 7-days a Week, Emergency Response Protocol
- Monitor the City’s Existing Tree Canopy Through our Forest Health Program
- Urban Forestry Protection Through Development Plans Review and Permitting
- Pest Management Programs Such as Emerald Ash Borer, and Gypsy Moth Control
- Public Education Programs
Service Details
Related Subservices
- Tree Planting
- Tree Maintenance
- Tree Maintenance and Planting Support Services
Type of Service
- Public facing
Rationale
- Essential/Mandatory, Legislated requirement (for emergency services access)
Primary Funding Sources
- Grants/Subsidies
- Net Levy
- User Fees
- Area Rating Reserves
Service Level
- At standard
Service Level Source
- Legislated
- Council approved policy or service standard
Performance Measures
2020
How much did you do?
Tree Planting
- Total trees planted: 12,218
- Some examples of how trees were allocated:
- 6,572 City-wide tree planting program (includes 3409 EAB replacements)
- 4,800 - bare root stock through the Federally funded “50 Million Trees Program”
- 10 trees - 85mm or larger through Ward specific program funded by Councillors
- 836 - container-stock planted through 3 volunteer planting events
- Ash tree replacements as per the Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan (1:1 replacement): 3372
- Street trees as per the Free Street Tree Program: 2100
- Tree planting services requests: 3117
Tree Maintenance
- Total Customer Service Requests: 16,255
- Removals and Stumping: Removals 60,913cm and Stumping 89,317cm
How Well Did You Do It? (quality)
- Grid Trimming: cmDBH/day/crew 379cm/crew/day
- Trees Planted/contractor/day: 15.44 trees planted per contractor per day
Is Anyone Better Off? (impact)
- Safety Improvement (tree trimming in a timely manner): grid pruning cycle: 9.1 years
2019
How much did you do?
Tree Planting
- Total trees planted: 9,109
- Some examples of how trees were allocated:
- 7,259 City-wide tree planting program (includes 3409 EAB replacements)
- 1,850 container-stock
- Tree planting service requests: 3,690
Tree Maintenance
- Total Customer Service Requests: 17,823
- Removals and Stumping: Removals 61,811cm and Stumping 105,517cm
How Well Did You Do It? (quality)
- Grid Trimming: cmDBH/day/crew 445cm/crew/day
- Trees Planted/contractor/day: 16 trees planted per contractor per day
Is Anyone Better Off? (impact)
- Safety Improvement (tree trimming in a timely manner): grid pruning cycle: 6.7 years
2018
How much did you do?
- Trees planted: 11,508
- Some examples of how trees were allocated:
- 6,608 City-wide tree planting program (includes 1978 EAB replacements)
- 4,500 container-stock through the provincially funded “50 Million Trees Program”
- 400 trees through ward specific programs funded by Councillors
- Ash tree replacements as per the Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan (1:1 replacement): 1,978
- Street trees as per the Free Street Tree Program: 2,084
- Tree planting service requests: 3,117
- Total Customer Service Requests: 20,625
- Removals and Stumping: Removals 52,889cm and Stumping 56,134cm
- Storm Response: 2039 Service Requests
- Storm Investigations: 163
- Plans reviewed and comments provided in regards to municipal tree assets: 1224
How Well Did You Do It? (quality)
- Grid Trimming: cmDBH/day/crew 365cm/crew/day
- Trees Planted/contractor/day: 13 trees planted per contractor per day
- Tree Removal: # days from service request (new for 2019)
Is Anyone Better Off? (impact)
- Tree Canopy increase: not measured in 2018
- Safety Improvement (tree trimming in a timely manner): grid pruning cycle: 9 years
- Tree removal in a timely manner improves customer service
2017
How much did you do?
- Total trees planted: 11,849
- City-wide Tree Planting Program: 7,063 (includes 1,300 EAB replacements)
- Container stock through the 50 Million Trees Program: 4,500
- Councillor funded ward specific programs: 286
- EAB Management Plan: 3,300 removals and 150 injections.
- 1,200 Development Application review by year end (23% increase over 2016)
How Well Did You Do It? (quality)
- Large Caliper Tree Planting Daily KPI: 48 trees (Annual Target = 5,760)
- Large Caliper at year-end = 5,283 TTL = 11,849
- Grid Trimming Daily KPI: 390 cm dbh per day (Annual Target = 189,150)
- Target exceeded and KPI method is under review for greater accuracy in data input.
- Investigator Service Requests KPI: 50 /person/week
- 17,445 responses to calls/emails for Forestry service at year-end, including storm response (917)
Is Anyone Better Off? (impact)
- Increased canopy coverage ties directly to the strategic priority of Clean and Green.
2016
How much did you do?
- Trees planted: 15,062
- Some examples of how trees were allocated:
- Ash tree replacements as per the Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan (1:1 replacement): 1,699
- Street trees as per the Free Street Tree Program: 1,848
- Tree planting service requests: 5,435
- Customer Service Requests: 10,615
- Removals and Stumping: 217,237 cm
- Storm Response: 590 trees
- Storm Investigations: 225 trees
- Plans reviewed and comments provided in regards to municipal tree assets: 978
- Date modified: