Township will conduct tree inventory with FCM grant

ELORA – The township’s arborist wants to get a handle on the number, the location and the health of the tree canopy in Centre Wellington and sought permission from council on April 13 to apply for a grant from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

The grant is under the Growing Canada’s Community Canopies initiative in the amount of $89,160.

The township will contribute $22,300 of in-kind support from the urban forestry operating budget for a total cost of $111,460.

The project will:

• complete/update urban tree inventory and condition assessments and strengthen ongoing monitoring; 
• complete canopy cover analysis and mapping to track canopy changes and support canopy targets and priority-setting;
• improve GIS-based tools (desktop/mobile) to support staff/contractors and enable future integration with the township’s work order processes; and
• support public communication and stewardship through enhanced website/dashboard access to inventory information.

The project will run from June 1 this year to Aug. 30 next year.

Council approved the proposal.