Edmonton Metropolitan Region

Guide to Urban Forest Management in a Changing Climate

Diamond Head worked with the All One Sky Foundation and its Partner municipalities to identify how climate change is already, and could in the future, affect trees and forests in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region (EMR). Guidance was developed on how municipalities could adapt their urban forest management practices to become more resilient to potential climate-related impacts. The project helped improve collective understanding and a coordinated response to climate change impacts on planted trees and native forests.

The first phase of the project involved a tree and forest vulnerability study, including examining bioclimatic profiles and climate envelop mapping, and using the ClimateNA model to determine analogous climates. Phase 2 produced a guide to smart tree planting and management in changing climate conditions. At the end of the project, Diamond Head coordinated a workshop for EMR local government staff to hear from local governments from other regions who have tackled similar issues, as well as provide an overview of the project findings and guide.