Achieving success
This Urban Forestry Strategy will be continually reviewed and updated during the next 10 years. To achieve success we need to build on the foundations and principles set out in the document.
The role of the urban forest in addressing the challenges faced by Coventry in the 21st century cannot be underestimated. Alongside GI, the requirement of urban forestry, articulated in this document, should be an adopted vision that permeates every level of the planning and design process, whatever the scale. This can be achieved over a period of time through CCC core policies, their approach to development, and embedded in strategies and local plans to drive future funding opportunities. This Urban Forestry Strategy and GI need to be recognised and work hand in hand. With adopted CCC Development Plans extending to 2028, the influence on policy is limited, but we must not hesitate on communicating the value of trees and lobbying for change to those in the position to change policies at time of reconsideration.
Having a greater understanding of the services and benefits our urban forests provide to inform future management and investment priorities, requires collaboration between the local community, CCC neighbouring local authorities, scientific and environmental experts, NGOs and developers. CCC need to take on a proactive approach to championing the urban forest, presenting its role as an integral part of a vibrant future for Coventry and Warwickshire. The urban forest must be planned, delivered and managed effectively; supported through innovation and a creative appetite to secure funding to sustain it through capital and revenue generation. Working with the complexity of the many interactions of the urban forest as a resource, whilst maximising its natural capital, the Urban Forestry Strategy must be placed at the heart of an integrated approach to GI, and this way will unlock the potential of the urban forest vision for Coventry for a sustainable lifestyle, alongside thriving landscapes, habitats and effective ecosystem services.
There is growing evidence that returns on urban forestry investment are high, with investing in green space proven to improve a region’s image; helping to attract and retain high-value industries, new business start-ups, entrepreneurs and workers, all of which are crucial to support a thriving economy in Coventry. The role of investing in GI and urban forests to reduce unemployment and increase ‘Gross Value Added’ needs to be succinctly conveyed as the UK leaves the deepest recession since 1930s, particularly in competing in international markets to attract overseas companies to bring high-quality investment to the UK. In addition, investment in our urban tree stock helps to meet the requirements of the UK Sustainable Development Strategy (Defra, 2005). CCC policymakers need to explore new sustainable models for funding and financing the urban forest.
With a multi-age urban tree stock, which is responding to changing urban and climatic conditions, we need to be equipped with the expertise and methods of best practice to better understand how to implement appropriate management, monitoring and planting regimes in these fast-changing environments. i-Tree software is one such way to establish changes in our tree canopy cover over time in comparison with the current situation.
We face multiple urban challenges, both today and into the future. As a major component of GI, trees are widely recognised as making a significant contribution toward ameliorating some of these issues. However, trees can only deliver their many long term benefits if appropriate species are selected for a given location.
Enhancing and effectively maintaining Coventry’s urban forest has considerable public and policy support, but unless we express a monetary value of the multiple benefits provided by the multi-functionality of the urban forest, it will not receive the recognition it deserves. Generally, people are unaware of the vast array of benefits urban trees provide expressed as ecosystem services and these need to be at the forefront of any decision making process on service delivery. We are aware that low-income areas generally have fewer urban trees and poorer quality green spaces compared with more affluent areas across Coventry and this needs to be rectified. The community need to fully engage with the creation and decision making of the management of the existing urban forest to ensure its success and healthy future. Empowering local communities to take responsibility of Coventry’s urban forest, and directing how we use and play in this resource can result in local benefits such as community cohesion and inclusion, and reduce incidence of vandalism and crime, minimising management costs.
This Strategy, therefore, sets out the rationale and framework for nurturing the urban forest for future generations.
