County of Brant unveils 10-year strategy to grow and protect community forest

Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor

The County of Brant is looking to expand and better protect its tree canopy through a new 10-year Community Forest Strategy aimed at balancing growth, climate resilience and long-term environmental sustainability.

The strategy was presented to the county’s policy development committee May 5, where it was received for information and supported by councillors without discussion. Final approval still requires ratification by council. 

Prepared by Dougan Ecology, Dendron Forestry Services and S. Nitoslawski, the strategy outlines a long-term roadmap for managing trees and forests across both public and private lands, including parks, roadsides, cemeteries, trails and woodlots. 

According to the report, the county’s current overall tree canopy cover is estimated at 24.7 per cent, with a long-term target of increasing canopy cover on county-owned lands to at least 30 per cent by 2050. 

The strategy aligns with targets already established in the County of Brant’s Climate Action Plan, which calls for planting 55,000 trees by 2035 and 110,000 trees by 2045. 

“The Community Forest Strategy provides a comprehensive, long-term framework to guide the protection, management, and expansion of the County of Brant’s Community Forest over the next ten (10) years,” forestry supervisor Trent Meyers wrote in his report to committee. 

The strategy notes the county’s “community forest” extends well beyond wooded areas and includes all trees located throughout the municipality’s urban and rural landscape. Currently, the county manages more than 87 hectares of woodlots, over 55 parks, nine forest tracts and roughly 300 kilometres of recreational trails. 

The document also emphasizes the role trees play as “critical green infrastructure” supporting biodiversity, reducing urban heat island effects, improving air quality, managing stormwater runoff and contributing to residents’ physical and mental well-being. 

Public engagement formed a significant part of the strategy’s development. A county survey conducted in spring 2025 gathered 192 responses and found strong public support for expanding and protecting tree cover. 

Among survey respondents:

87 per cent agreed with the strategy’s goals 

82 per cent expressed interest in stewardship activities 

73 per cent said tree canopy coverage is lacking, particularly in new subdivisions and 

48 per cent disagreed that the county does enough to protect trees. 

Residents identified protecting existing natural areas, planting more urban street trees, stronger enforcement during development and increased public education as top priorities. 

The strategy focuses on five main priorities over the next decade, including planning for future growth of the community forest, protecting trees on both public and private lands, improving long-term tree health and safety, building stronger partnerships and community collaboration, and supporting recreation and other initiatives connected to green spaces and natural areas.

A major focus of the strategy is shifting the county from a largely reactive forestry model, responding to hazards and emergency removals, toward preventative maintenance and long-term planning. 

The strategy states emergency tree removals and deferred maintenance are among the most expensive outcomes for municipalities and notes preventative pruning programs are more cost effective over time. 

County staff currently include one forestry supervisor and one arborist added in 2025. The strategy notes about 3,500 of an estimated 20,000 trees have been inventoried to date. 

Short-term priorities include completing a GIS-based tree inventory in settlement areas, expanding preventative maintenance programs, updating planting lists with native and climate-adaptive species, and assessing additional plantable areas across the county. 

Longer-term initiatives include developing a Woodland Strategy, launching a heritage tree protection program, pursuing Tree Cities of the World recognition and exploring regenerative agriculture initiatives such as silvopasture. 

The strategy also recognizes the need for continued Indigenous engagement. Six Nations of the Grand River and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation participated in consultation efforts and requested ongoing involvement as projects move forward. 

Staff say implementation of the strategy will be phased over short-, medium- and long-term timelines and aligned with future council-approved budgets and available staffing resources.