RESIDENTS are being invited to contribute ideas for a long term plan to manage Ku-ring-gai’s tree canopy and its associated ecosystems.
The draft Urban Forest Strategy is being developed following the Council’s adoption of an Urban Forest Policy in February 2020.
The Strategy will ultimately provide a long-term framework for managing Ku-ring-gai’s urban forest.
The term urban forest is used to describe the ecosystem containing trees and plants in an urban environment, Urban forest also includes the soil, water and native animals that sustain this ecosystem, as well as vegetation in public and private ownership.
Ku-ring-gai has long been known as ‘Sydney’s green heart’ and has the largest area of bushland to manage of any council in the city.
Residents are being asked for their ideas and a web page has been set up showing Ku-ring-gai suburbs and their respective tree coverage athttps://krg.engagementhub.com.au/krgurbanforest. Residents can provide comment through a survey or feedback form.
Comments are open until 1 November in the first round of consultation on the Strategy. The second phase of community engagement in early 2022 will seek community feedback on the Strategy before finalisation.
Mayor Dr Cedric Spencer said that while the Council had a good track record on protecting the local tree canopy, the pressures of urbanisation meant tree replacement needed to be prioritised.
“The Council will also review its tree planting policies on public land as part of the Strategy,” he said.