Who are the trees in your neighbourhood?

Tree identification is a cool skill to have even for the fun of it. Like pointing out the constellations, it can be a great way to impress your friends. But even more than that, being able to tell the difference between a black walnut and a green ash can give you a greater appreciation for the urban forest - and how to properly manage it.

Just over a month ago, fellow Master of Forest Conservation student Susan Frye and I led a tree identification tour through the University of Toronto campus. The tour was part of a new initiative called Trade School Toronto, where people barter by teaching classes to community members in exchange for desirable items. We asked for fruit, recipes, tea, and jokes.

We were excited when our course had the highest turnout of all. Susan said it “really emphasized how important trees are to the community.” And we both agreed, the enthusiasm and questions were remarkable.

The participants came from different levels of knowledge and skill. Some were enthusiastic amateurs, others had an interest in urban foraging, and one was even a fully-fledged botanist. The best tours are definitely the ones where the teachers have a chance to be students as well.

We started the evening with green ash trees, which are very common along Spadina Avenue. After the participants successfully identified the species using an identification key, I asked a simple question: “Does this tree seem healthy to you?” As is the case with many ash species in Toronto, there was plenty of dieback, sparse canopies, and epicormic shoots.

It did not take too long for someone to whisper, “is it the emerald ash borer?” We all gathered around and squinted until we found a tiny D-shaped exit hole. We talked about the emerald ash borer, amazed that something so small could be so devastating and stressing the need to diversify urban landscapes to avoid this kind of plight in the future.

From there we went on to identify red oak, white pine, common horse chestnut, Norway spruce and about ten other species. We saw girdled roots, galls, and stress from soil compaction, drought or mechanical damage. During the conversation we highlighted the importance of proper planting, choosing the right species, and native versus non-native.

Beyond identifying species and common stresses, we wove in stories. We talked about how the Kentucky coffee tree got its name because its seeds were roasted in place of the common morning bean; how ash trees are so ubiquitous because they replaced the elm that were lost to Dutch Elm Disease in the mid-to-late Twentieth Century. Magical or mundane, people seemed to grab onto these stories as a way to remember. And providing welcome outbursts of laughter between the lessons were the bartered jokes.

“So, how do you identify a dogwood tree?”

- “By its bark, of course.”  

This post was originally published on the Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests (LEAF) blog.

Photos by Rebecca Launchbury

Rain not urban - but still worthy of a post

Even though much of Malaysia is covered in oil palm plantations, if you go beyond the plantations to the remaining rainforest, you will witness the greatest plant diversity in the world. The country's rainforests have 4500 tree species alone, which create multi-layered canopies and habitats that support great biodiversity among multiple taxonomic groups.

One of the most beautiful images from my time in Malaysia, was a phenomenon called "crown shyness" (left). Where the trees don't cross or cover each other, (hence the "shyness") and you're left with uniform lines of light seeping through the canopy. It kind of looks like the sky is cracking open, similar to the way the ground does after a heavy drought, but completely upside down of course.


At one forest reserve in Borneo, the insect diversity was awe-inspiring. I specifically remember the moths at night. Some with massive wingspans, different colours that you would only expect from butterflies, and very interesting shapes, to say the least. One particular moth at the same forest reserve moved its abdomen up in a way that earned it the nickname - "Scorpion moth". I made sure to keep my distance from this one out of fear that it might sting me, but got close enough to witness this perfect example of biomimicry. 

Then there were the quirky plants. We saw the pitcher plant (Nepenthes), a carnivorous plant endemic to Borneo and the Rafflesia (right) a flowering parasite which was way too pretty to smell that bad. One of my favorite trees, was from the eucalyptus family and it had this incredible red bark that peeled to reveal various shades of red, which looked like paintbrush strokes. Then, there were the mangroves which were kind of eerie, the buttress roots that were hollow and handsome, and the firefly-filled trees that turned one spring evening into a Christmas celebration. 


Malaysia's rainforest and all its diversity, succeeded in reminding me just how beautiful and interesting, functionality can be. 

Planting the seed

‘Urban forestry’ may sound like an oxymoron and is likely a new term for many. I, myself had only heard of the discipline just over a year ago when I started thinking of forestry as a possible career shift. Before that I would think of forests as remote areas, provincial or federal parks, and very rarely would I see city centres as being part of a forest. Sure, I knew that there were trees along streets, in urban parks, in backyards, and suburbs, but it was less clear why the often sparse cover of urban trees should be referred to as a collective forest.

Urban forestry is the planning, care, and management of urban tree populations as well as the surrounding ecosystem. The populations are managed as part of the greater urban infrastructure with an end goal of providing physiological, social, and economic benefits to society in both the short and long-term. Coined in the 1960s, by Eric Jorgensen, urban forestry was born at a time of crisis (Dutch Elm Disease) when it became evident that management would require much more than the mere planting of trees, but planning for sustainability and preparing for the challenges to come.

The urban forest improves air quality, provides shade, reduces runoff from storm-water, provides habitat for wildlife and has been shown to increase property value, reduce mental stress, and lower crime rates. These benefits that are important to the well-being of city dwellers can also reduce costs related to temperature regulation and health-care.

So why isn't urban forestry a priority at the municipal level? Well, the unfortunate truth is that trees are usually an after-thought in the urban planning process and are often planted for aesthetics with little attention beyond a minimum standard paid to specific planting requirements, resource needs and biodiversity.

Pollution, limited resources, physical and chemical damage, and soil compaction, plague urban trees and can result in reduced life expectancy and increased susceptibility to disease and attack by invasive species. Some trees are planted in root areas so small that the planting boxes have been termed 'tree coffins' (shown in the image above). How's that for foreshadowing? You see these at shopping malls and along the sides of streets, and unfortunately this extreme practice isn't all that uncommon.

On the bright side, it's not all doom and gloom. Fortunately, there is a lot of great work being done both at the government and non-government level with some local and national organizations like Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests (LEAF), Tree Canada Foundation, and NeighbourWoods, who are working hard to either advocate, educate or provide information and services to those interested. These organizations and many others are planting the seed, however, it will take a collective effort from municipalities, institutions, business and residents, alike to change the way urban forests are managed both on public and private land.

So what can be done? For starters, we can get rid of the tree coffins, increase root and canopy space through innovation, and start planting native cultivars from a diversity of species. We can manage for a vital forest, rather than a few pretty, but ill-fated trees. It is likely that we'll see another Dutch Elm Disease or Emerald Ash Borer in our time, so given that it is inevitable, why not make it harder for these Invasives to flourish? When it comes down to it, there will not always be funds available to constantly replace trees, so it's either change our ways now or get used to the concrete jungle.

Can't get enough? Why not read more? Get involved?

City of Toronto: Urban Forestry Services

Urban Forestry - Tree Canada

Forest History Society of Canada: Urban Forestry

Local Enhancement of Forests (LEAF): The Urban Forest

Ontario Nature Magazine

source of image: http://www.tdc.ca/treecare.htm