Effects of tree conservation in the urbanizing fringe of Southern Ontario cities: 1970–1984

Conservation procedures for incorporating rural tree stands, hedgerows and individual trees into new residential, industrial and commercial developments in the Toronto urban fringe are described. These procedures, developed for private land holdings, have been tested over a 14-year period. The process of sequential analysis now in place begins with the city identifying stands of trees to be afforded varying degrees of protection in the Official Plan of the Municipality. Developers then incorporate these stands, as well as hedgerows and significant single trees, into new urban development, beginning at a conceptual design stage (1:10 000), moving to a secondary design stage (1:5000–1:10 000) and finally to a site design stage or plane of sub-division (1:500). At the site design stage, special aerial photography, field surveys and computer mapping of individual trees make it possible to display only those specimen trees of high quality which can withstand urban-induced stress. These trees are then protected utilizing an integrated design approach followed by inspection and mitigation procedures.