Tag: Climate Resilience
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Municipal Elections 2026 – Urban Forest Key Issues
By Squirrel For Mayor đż Download Victoria’s Urban Forest issues (.pdf) Key Issue: URBAN FOREST & ENVIRONMENT Key Messages We need a change in City Councilâs approach to the urban forest: From To Summary 1. Biodiversity & Ecological Planning Problem The OCPâs new land-use framework was developed without a city-wide biodiversity assessment of private land.… Read more
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Would the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights Improve Municipal Urban Forest Governance?
On July 20, 2026, Saanich Councillor Nathalie Chambers brought forward a motion asking Council to consider the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights as a framework for informing the District’s Tree Protection Bylaw, Urban Forest Strategy and broader municipal planning. The motion was defeated 8â1 following a lengthy discussion about municipal authority, legal implications and implementation. Questions from the debate Would the Universal… Read more
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Urban Forest Myths: Debunking the Debunkers
Summary: This article reviews common claims about urban trees and compares them with current urban forestry research. Topics include replacement planting, mature tree value, biodiversity, and the ecological role of urban forests in climate resilience. By đżď¸ Squirrel for Mayor What does the urban forest have to do with housing myths? That is a fair… Read more
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Even Supporters of Housing Reform Are Calling for a Review of Bill 44
By Squirrel For Mayor đż One of the most persistent myths surrounding criticism of Bill 44 is that it comes only from people who oppose new housing. That simply isn’t true. In a June 1, 2026 letter to Housing and Municipal Affairs Minister Christine Boyle, the Cadboro Bay Residents Association (CBRA) made something very clear:… Read more
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How We Learned to Talk Ourselves Out of Ecology
While having lunch with a longtime friend recently, our conversation turned to housing. He had just finished reading Gregor Craigie’s book and, before long, we were discussing density, zoning, and the future of our cities. Then he asked me something that stopped me for a moment. “Urban forest is kind of an oxymoron, isn’t it?”… Read more