A group in Guelph is looking for volunteers interested in helping preserve old trees in the city by forming a tree trust.
The Guelph Urban Forest Friends are trying to form a tree trust, which would collect local donations to fund the maintenance of local mature canopy trees to prolong their life and their contribution to the environment, and ecosystem.
With chapters seen in Wellington County, Waterloo Region and Stratford/Perth, GUFF is hoping to start one in Guelph, which will focus on preserving the well-being of canopy trees on private property.
"Trees add so much to a city, and they do it silently. They need us to speak for them," said Sue Rietschin, part of the board of the steering committee for GUFF. "They do so much for the environment, they do so much for the ecosystem, for all the species, and often we just take it for granted, and as we head into this time of climate change, it's important to have as many trees as possible."
Currently within Guelph, the tree canopy percentage is less than 30 per cent. To fight climate change, Rietschin said many people talk about planting trees, but not as many talk about preserving the old ones.
Mature trees provide shade during the summer, absorb large amounts of rainwater, take in large sources of carbon, and provide food and shelter for animals.
"You can add 50 years to the life of a tree, at minimum, if you look after it properly, and it provides shade and sustenance for the smaller trees you plant near it, and they will be ready to take over when that tree is done."
Preserving these trees across the city can benefit residents now more than waiting for new saplings to grow.
"I know on the tree trust website, it quotes a fact that you would have to plant 269 saplings to do the work of one mature tree, so it seems a shame that we don't help keep the old trees," said Rietschin.
By forming a tree trust in Guelph, the group will work by coordinating pruning efforts for selected trees on various private properties, from cemeteries to museums to someone's backyard. Rietschin explains the pruning would be done by an arborist who would be paid by donations the tree trust receives.
"Sometimes with old trees, people cut them down because they're afraid of limbs falling, right? And all it needs is a good pruning," said Rietschin. "There's different things they can do to make that tree safe and allowing it to live a much longer life."
Preserving these trees across the city can benefit residents now more than waiting for new saplings to grow.
"It takes a sapling 20 or 30 years to grow to the size that it's really doing good work for us, in terms of climate and habitat and water uptake and all those kinds of things," said Rietschin.
Recently, GUFF is exploring its options on how to form the chapter, including reaching out to community organizations about creating a tree trust. Rietschin said the chapter can be members of a current organization or of individuals who are interested in old trees and are willing to do media work.
"It does involve doing the PR work within the community," said Rietschin. "What the communities do often when they have a tree that qualifies, they have an event around it."
She adds GUFF is hoping to form a tree trust before the spring, when engagement on the tree bylaw is set to be reviewed by the city. Right now, Rietschin said the City of Guelph has an online survey about the City Canopy Strategy, which can be found here.
"We're really interested in extending the bylaw to private property. Guelph does not have a bylaw that applies to smaller properties, anything less than half a hectare you can do what you want with the trees," said Rietschin. "Most bigger cities now have some protection on trees on private property."
Those who are interested in learning more about the tree trust can go to treetrust.ca or email [email protected].
