Urban Forestry

Threats To Urban Forests

• The threats to the urban forest in Canada are both physical and political. They include:
• Urbanization of natural, wooded areas outside of cities - converting woodlots into either a non-treed environment or a single-tree environment
• Loss of topsoil in land development which therefore prejudices tree growth
• Exotic pest, disease and invasive plant introductions including Dutch elm disease, Asian gypsy moth and European buckthorn
• Expansion of urban infrastructure (roads widenings etc.) with resulting negative impacts on trees
• The use of trees and plant material of unknown provenance thereby increasing susceptibility to increased mortality
• Increasing drought, salt pollution in the winter and air pollution problems, and
• A lack of credible leadership, both governmental and academic to lead in urban forestry work in Canada.