Poor weather, staff shortages and even some community hostility to new trees have slowed the expansion of Canberra’s urban forest.
The ACT government aims to have tree canopies covering 30 per cent of suburban areas by 2045, including public and private land.
However, it fell behind schedule over the past year, planting 5,350 fewer trees than intended — a shortfall of 30 per cent.
The City Services Directorate said several factors were to blame.
Its annual report referred to procurement delays, staff turnover, limited contractor availability and “persistent wet weather impeding access for planting”.
It also cited “refusal of street tree plantings by adjacent residents”.
Meanwhile, a separate government report identifies damage to street trees, and their illegal removal, as a threat to the urban forest.
However, the directorate does not publish details of where or how many trees are illegally felled.
ACT Environment and Sustainability Commissioner Sophie Lewis, who monitors the government’s progress, said the extent of illegal felling was unclear.
She speculated that Canberrans might remove street trees because they wanted to park vehicles on their nature strips, they disliked the species or they simply didn’t want trees near their home.
Nature strips are public land and parking on them is illegal in the ACT. Those who do it can be fined up to $3,200.
Nonetheless, it remains a common practice across most suburbs.
The directorate has highlighted the damage this parking causes, saying cars permanently compact the soil, which removes air and the ability of water to seep into the soil.
Parked vehicles also crush tree roots.
The directorate says street trees reduce stormwater run-off, cool suburbs down, are vital for wildlife and are associated with higher property prices.
Despite the recent setbacks, Ms Vasserotti said the government was confident it would achieve its 30 per cent canopy target.
She cited new laws which come into effect on January 1 next year, which will protect more trees and increase penalties against those who harm them.
Under the changes, smaller trees on private property will be protected against removal. This will include trees at least 8 metres high (12 metres under current law) or with a circumference of at least 1 metre (1.5 metres currently).
Large, dead, native trees will also be protected, to provide more habitat for animals.
A person who intentionally damages a protected tree will face a fine of up to $80,000, a change from the current maximum of $64,000.
Dr Lewis said expanding the urban forest as Canberra’s suburbs became more densely populated would require a carefully balanced approach.
(ABC)
