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BOSTON
- Friday, February 12, 2021 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Boston Parks and
Recreation Commissioner Ryan Woods today announced the consultants selected to develop Boston's Urban Forest Plan. Boston landscape architecture firm Stoss Landscape Urbanism and forestry
consultant Urban Canopy Works have been selected to co-lead the effort to
develop the City of Boston's first Urban Forest Plan. Stoss was awarded the
contract with Urban Canopy Works as a subconsultant. The 20-year plan will
set citywide goals for canopy protection, be responsive to climate change
and development, and enhance the quality of life for all Bostonians. The
Urban Forest Plan will be a collaborative effort that includes a community
advisory group, interdepartmental working group and community outreach.
Recognizing that environmental injustice exists in Boston, the planning
process will embed support for communities that have been
disproportionately impacted by environmental stressors. Planning will touch
upon a wide variety of topics, such as ecology, design, policy, practices
and funding.
"Trees are an important part of making Boston's communities resilient. This plan is the first of its kind in Boston, and it will expand and protect one of our most precious natural resources, while prioritizing the needs of our residents," said Mayor Walsh. "Developing an urban forest plan is important to ensure our tree canopy in Boston is equitable, responsive to climate change and ensures quality of life for all Bostonians. This collaborative project with Stoss Landscape Urbanism and Urban Canopy Works will prioritize community input to ensure that residents in our neighborhoods have a central voice in this process."
"It's
no coincidence that many of the communities disproportionately impacted by
poor air quality and the urban 'heat island' effect, also have inadequate
tree cover," said Commissioner Woods. "We're excited to
collaborate with these partners to find opportunities for growing tree
canopy in the places that need it most."
The
project team will also work closely with a community advisory group and an
interdepartmental working group with input from residents, community
organizations, businesses, and institutions. Kicking off in spring of 2021,
the planning process will take approximately one year to complete. The
community advisory group will be formed in late spring of this year. The
public will have an opportunity to weigh in on the plan in early fall,
after the assessment and scoping phases.
One
of the project tasks, along with scoping the project and assessing the
existing state of the canopy, will be to develop a plan for engaging the
community. The outreach plan will prioritize populations that have been
disproportionately exposed to environmental stressors; be sensitive to
differences in cultures, economic realities, and built environments across
Boston; incorporate City of Boston Language and Communications Access
guidelines; consider equity and accessibility in both in-person and online
engagement strategies; and retain flexibility to adapt engagement
strategies in response to changing public health recommendations.
Joining
Stoss Landscape Urbanism and Urban Canopy Works, the plan will be developed
with contributions from American Forests, Nitsch Engineering, PlanITGeo,
local experts, and the public. Dr. Neenah-Estrella Luna of Northeastern
University will support the effort to make environmental justice the
foundation of the project.
"Our
job is to fuel the project's success by coordinating efforts between all
the partners who each bring their own unique expertise," said Stoss'
Amy Whitesides and her team. "The ultimate goal is to maximize the
health of Bostonians and their environment. We're proud to work with the
City of Boston on this shared commitment to Boston's Urban Forest Plan."
"Trees
are a vital component of livable communities," said Rachel Comte of
Urban Canopy Works. "And we know that communities can make visionary
changes when everyone is at the table. We are pleased to work with the City
of Boston to develop a community-driven urban forest plan."
The
final plan document will highlight policy tools to control canopy loss on
private property, as well as guidelines for protecting and expanding canopy
on public property, like streets and parks. Over the past five years, tree removals on residential, private, and
institutional property have been the main contributors to canopy loss.
The finalized plan will provide recommendations for canopy protection and
expansion through proposed changes to the development review process, as
well as new policies and ordinances, including draft language and methods
of enforcement aimed at protecting and expanding the tree canopy.
The
Urban Forest Plan is a critical piece of the vision for the City's tree
canopy goals laid out in Imagine Boston 2030
and Climate Ready Boston.
The City launched Climate Ready Boston in 2016 to develop resilient
solutions to prepare for the effects of climate change: flooding due to
sea-level rise, increased storms, and extreme heat. Urban Forest planning
is closely aligned with Climate Ready Boston, as trees provide cooling
shade, reduce the risk of heat illness, and are key to making Boston's
communities resilient to climate change. Targeted investments in green
infrastructure will be important, as heat island exposure is greater in
neighborhoods with limited green space. The City of Boston Environment Department
will be launching a heat resilience planning study
this spring.
In
addition to the $500,000 budgeted for the Urban Forest Plan, historic
investments in Boston's tree canopy this year will also support the hiring
of a new arborist and the added capacity for up to 1,000 additional tree
plants, doubling the total capacity to 2,000 trees planted per year. The Tree Canopy Assessment,
released in September, supports efforts to increase access to trees and
their benefits in "under-treed" neighborhoods, as a part of the
City's commitment to environmental justice. Information provided in the
report is foundational to the Urban Forest Plan, as well as future policy
and planning efforts.
For
more information about Boston's Urban Forest Plan, please email parks@boston.gov. | 
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