Climate Action Now – Treating Trees with Respect

The next contribution from the Sixth Assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report is due to be released in April and will focus on methods for reducing emissions or removing them from the atmosphere. Council will soon release its draft Urban Heat and Urban Greening Strategies for public comment.

Trees are increasingly being recognised internationally and locally as critical infrastructure in a climate changing future. We need strategies, plans, resources and community action to protect them.

One way we can all do a little bit is by keeping our City’s trees intact and healthy where we can. This is becoming increasingly challenging because Council’s Ranger resources required to protect trees from illegal removal have been reduced.

Whilst there are Council rules about the process of removing native trees, recently the CPPA was contacted by distressed locals trying to address illegal tree removal on Australia Day , a majestic gum (pic). When locals rang Council they were advised “it’s after hours and Council can’t do anything about it”. Similarly an early Sunday morning call, another concerned neighbour, another magnificent gum, Council’s reply, ”someone will be out tomorrow”. These trees have framed the community and whilst on private land they are a part of the larger community, and as a silent majority are in desperate need of a loud voice.

A quick email alerting our local Councillors to the issue may provide an avenue to increase the Ranger budget to support tree retention in our community. Whilst Council is busy formulating plans to support trees on public land without efforts to protect those on private land, the majority of the land in the City, the battle for urban greening will be hard fought.

A positive development is that the Lake Macquarie Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance is highlighting the value of trees through the ReLeaf Lake Mac initiative. This initiative aims to increase tree canopy cover and green spaces across Lake Macquarie to address climate change and urban heating, which is identified as a concern around Toronto and Carey Bay. During the summer of 2015-16 some areas of Toronto were 9 0C above baseline data for the City.

ReLeaf Lake Mac envisions a vital network of grassroots groups working in partnership with each other, businesses, and Council across Lake Macquarie. Through these efforts, our community will value the urban forest as being integral to the quality of life, economic well-being, and a sustainable global environment.

The target is to increase tree canopy and native vegetation coverage to 50% in residential zones and 70% across the city. The Releaf LakeMac website has information about the benefits of green spaces, and how everyone can help to enhance the liveability of our city and protect the environment.

What are your favourite trees and green spaces in Lake Mac and what do you value most about them? It might be a bushland reserve, a special tree, a local park, your backyard or balcony. Who are our local bush champions, working to care for and enhance our green spaces? Please email ReLeafLakeMac@gmail.com with your story, photos or video so that it can be included on the website for others to enjoy. Visit releaflakemac.org.au to find out more, and to submit your stories or join the conversation on facebook https://www.facebook.com/releaflakemac

Climate Action Now Bin stickers and signs available at Progress Hall and https://www.climateaction.org.au/