Thorold is one of the Niagara municipalities with the least amount of trees.
A regional report, released earlier this year, identified that Thorold has 13.1% tree canopy, Thorold South has 12.8% tree canopy, and Port Robinson has 34% tree canopy.
The average tree canopy coverage across all urban areas in the Niagara Region consists of 23.8%, so Thorold’s tree coverage seems to be severely lacking. The recommended standard set by Environment Canada is a minimum of 30%.
The issue was discussed during a council meeting on Oct. 1.
“We have to quantify what the report consists of,” said Councillor Jim Handley. “We may in fact not have that kind of canopy but it’s because of the acreage we have, the farmland and the rural areas here in Thorold. We’re one of the biggest landowners.”
In recent years, the city has removed a large number of ash trees because of Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive beetle that attacks and kills all species of ash.
While it is the city’s policy that each removed tree requires a replacement, this has not always been the case.
“I know there’s a lot of trees that have not been replaced,” said Councillor Henry D’Angela. “I just drove down Tupper [Drive] and there were fifteen boulevards that had not had trees replaced that were taken down.”
During the 2024 City Budget Deliberations, council set aside $30,000 for its tree planting program. And because the city has also applied for external funding to plant trees this year, they still have $20,000 left to plant more.
City Hall wants to put that remaining money towards planting trees at the DeCew House Heritage Park and Battle of Beaverdams Park, but councillors wonder if it also shouldn’t go towards replacing street trees.
“Anything that’s been cut down should be replaced,” said Councillor D’Angela. “That should be the top level. If there’s one that has been cut down at Decew House that needs replacing, there’s no issue there. Let’s replace the ones that have been removed first.”
The ask did not fall on deaf ears.
“Quite frankly, we haven’t thought about the street tree replacement option,” said Director of Community Services, Geoff Holman. “We could look at some of those places that were impacted by the Emerald Ash and maybe direct some of the plantings in those locations.”
Each new street tree would cost the city around $500 to plant.
