Green infrastructure,…

Green infrastructure, including municipal trees/ watersheds/ Low Impact Developments, etc. are valuable and should be valued as an asset. Their many benefits should be included in the policies surrounding their inclusion in asset management. Road reconstruction, and any city project should value these trees in their work in providing shade for the area, city beautification, stormwater management, carbon sequestration and pollution mitigation, animal habitat etc. Removing trees for convenience should be disallowed, unless there is a direct threat to other infrastructure or safety in allowing them to thrive where they are. If a tree is removed, a minimum of two should be replanted in its place (not necessarily the same location) in order to combat the extreme deforestation that has already happened. It should also be recognized that a small, young tree does not have the benefits of a large, mature tree, so removal and replacement should be a last resort. Construction projects should all include a minimum amount of green infrastructure, especially at street-level (boulevard trees etc.) asn well as maintain a tree canopy at the prescribed level.

[Original Comment ID: 210051]