CITY OF BURLINGTON

Urban Forest Master Plan (in progress)

Diamond Head is working with the City of Burlington to update their Urban Forest Master Plan which will guide the management and growth of their urban Forest to 2040. In addition, DHC is providing a complementary Woodland Management Strategy to guide the long-term management of its woodlots. An updated Master Plan and Woodland Management Strategy will provide a strategic framework to adapt and plan for changes related to canopy loss, climate change and pressure from development.  

The project will be executed in two phases. The first stage includes conducting a canopy analysis to determine biodiversity, climate vulnerability and equity benchmarks for Burlington’s urban forest and stakeholder consultations for collaborative decision-making. The outcomes of these tasks will inform the next task of reviewing and updating the current Plan, which includes a 5-year operational plan detailing improvements, updates, recommendations and priorities for the City’s Master Plan.  

The second stage is the 20-year Woodland Management Strategy to help the City maximize tree cover, increase native vegetative biodiversity and contribute to the environmental sustainability of Burlington. The strategy will include hazard abatement, invasive species monitoring, species-at-risk management, pest management and woodland regeneration approaches.