Input on the Forest Management Strategy: Thoughts, Questions, and Recommendations

Use a city heat map overlaid with socio-economic data to identify high-priority planting areas, where vulnerable populations often coincide with hotter microclimates.

Create a public, interactive tree planting map where residents can suggest locations for future plantings.

Use streetscapes to calm traffic and provide shade along active transportation routes and near school zones.

Align the forest strategy with the City’s active transportation plan to maximize shared benefits.

Prioritize tree planting in parks by creating naturalized zones with layered plantings that reduce maintenance and enhance biodiversity — look to Brooklyn Bridge Park (NYC) and Leslie Street Lookout Park (Toronto) as precedents.

Assess forest health using more than just canopy cover—evaluate species diversity, structure, and the presence of invasive species.

Clarify the City's definition of a forest—whether it includes shrubs and understorey layers or leans toward parkland with open ground.

Implement a successional planting plan in 1950s subdivisions where trees are nearing the end of life.

Reconsider tree planting standards—plant more, smaller tree stock to increase survival rates and reduce costs.

Improve tree management by using mycorrhizal inoculants, biochar, and radial trenching to relieve root zone compaction.

Encourage sensitive excavation methods near trees during construction, such as hydro-vac or vacuum digging, to protect root systems.

Establish a formal tree protection policy for Kingston’s urban core — currently, no such policy exists.

Enable neighbourhood forest groups to help plan, plant, and manage trees at the local level.

Use public notice boards to raise awareness, promote programs, and call residents to action.

Acknowledge Kingston’s marshlands as key components of its urban form and natural infrastructure — not as refuse areas — and draw inspiration from Toronto’s ravine strategy (i.e., sponge city concept).

Incorporate green infrastructure projects such as rain gardens, bioswales, green roofs, and Little Forests into urban planning.

Support watershed enhancements and reclaim lost river systems in Kingston through daylighting and sponge city techniques.

Prioritize native species, especially keystone varieties that support local ecosystems.

Reevaluate vegetation selection using site-specific tools to ensure suitability for conditions like soil, sun, and moisture.

Ensure adequate soil volume and health in all urban planting projects, particularly for street trees.

Allow targeted invasive species management through selective herbicide use — this is currently prohibited by City by-law, but supported by provincial and federal best practices.

Reclaim neglected forested public areas like Collins Creek and Belle Park for ecological and community use.

Improve the design of urban tree infrastructure using solutions like Silva Cells and stormwater-linked planting methods.

Clarify and support green business partnerships to make it easier for local businesses to collaborate with the City on tree and forest projects.

Acknowledge unique local conditions like shallow soils and exposed bedrock in planting strategies.

Create a dedicated seed strategy and task force to collect local seeds of valuable species and propagate them in City-run production greenhouses.

Review tree procurement policies to prioritize local suppliers and reduce reliance on out-of-region stock.

Plan for tree reuse by repurposing material from felled trees — for example, into biochar, public mulch, logs for sitting/play features, or natural installations.

Clarify what outcomes are expected from this strategy — what actionable items, projects, or funding mechanisms will result from this work?