Rooted in resilience: How urban forests are shaping sustainable communities
In the heart of Ontario's York Region, a transformative initiative is taking root. The Regional Municipality of York became the first municipality in North America to achieve certification under the Sustainable Forestry Initiative's (SFI) Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard. This landmark achievement not only underscores York Region’s commitment to sustainable urban development but also serves as an inspiring model for municipalities continent-wide.
A commitment to green excellence
Achieving this certification was no small feat. York Region underwent a rigorous evaluation process, assessing its forest management plans, community engagement initiatives, climate adaptation strategies, and long-term sustainability goals. Through a meticulous third-party audit conducted by Preferred by Nature—an international non-profit organization—York Region demonstrated compliance with over 100 key indicators, affirming its dedication to responsible stewardship of its urban forests.
“Achieving this certification is a significant milestone underscoring York Region and York Regional Council’s commitment to sustainable urban forestry,” said Eric Jolliffe, York Region Chairman and CEO. “It reflects the success of our Greening Strategy and the vital role trees and forests play in building healthy and resilient communities. This recognition reaffirms York Region as a leader in environmental stewardship and reinforces our century-long legacy in protecting, conserving and restoring the natural environment.”
The role of standards and accreditation
The journey to certification was facilitated by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), which accredits Preferred by Nature to offer SFI certification services. Gillian Koh, an SCC assessor instrumental in this accreditation process, emphasized the significance of such standards:
"Accreditation ensures that certification bodies operate with integrity and competence," Koh explained. "At SCC, climate change and sustainability are key areas of focus. By offering this accreditation program, we enable municipalities like York Region to validate their urban sustainable forestry efforts through credible third-party audits. It's part of our broader commitment to fostering positive environmental change."
Preferred by Nature: Guiding the path to certification
Preferred by Nature's involvement was pivotal in York Region's certification journey. As an international organization dedicated to supporting better land management and business practices, Preferred by Nature recently expanded its scope to include the SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard. This addition builds on the organization’s existing SFI certification services, which include forest management, fiber sourcing, and small-scale forest management for Indigenous Peoples, families and communities.
Their expertise provided York Region with the necessary guidance to navigate the robust certification process successfully.
"This new standard is a natural addition to our SFI certification services," noted James Hallworth, Senior Forestry Specialist at Preferred by Nature. "It complements our mission to promote sustainable solutions and fills a significant gap by recognizing the value of urban forests in both environmental and community contexts."
Urban forests: Natural allies against climate change
Urban forests are more than just aesthetic enhancements; they play a crucial role in mitigating the effects of climate change. Trees act as natural air conditioners, providing shade that cools streets and buildings during sweltering summers, thereby reducing the need for air conditioning and lowering energy costs. In colder months, they serve as windbreaks, insulating homes and decreasing heating expenses. Moreover, their roots absorb significant amounts of rainwater, reducing runoff and minimizing flood risks. By sequestering carbon dioxide, urban forests also help lower greenhouse gas concentrations, contributing to a healthier environment.
Flexible certification for diverse communities
Recognizing that organizations that own, manage or are responsible for urban or community forests vary in size and resources, the SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard offers thematic certification options. This flexibility allows cities, communities, or organizations to achieve third-party certification to a subset of the objectives in the full standard that represent a certain theme. The themes include:
- Community well-being and human health: Focusing on enhancing the health and social benefits that urban forests provide to communities.
- Environmental and conservation leadership: Emphasizing the protection of biodiversity and natural resources.
- Climate and disaster resilience: Addressing strategies for climate adaptation and disaster preparedness.
- Urban forest improvement: Concentrating on the planning and management of urban forests for long-term sustainability.
This approach ensures that municipalities can start with areas that align with their immediate priorities and expand their certification scope over time. York Region opted for comprehensive certification, but other organizations might choose to begin with one theme and build upon their successes.
A model for municipalities continent-wide
York Region's achievement serves as a beacon for other municipalities contemplating similar initiatives. It demonstrates that with commitment, collaboration, and adherence to established standards, urban centers can enhance their green spaces effectively and sustainably.
"York Region’s achievement in meeting the SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard demonstrates what’s possible for municipalities in Canada seeking to enhance their urban forests," said Meg Hanna, Director of Urban and Community Forests for Canada at SFI. "Their commitment to sustainable forest management promotes green spaces for all, while strengthening the many environmental and social benefits that urban forests provide."
Looking ahead: The future of urban forestry
As urbanization accelerates, integrating nature into cityscapes becomes increasingly vital. Urban forests stand at the intersection of environmental sustainability and community well-being, offering solutions to challenges like air pollution, heat islands and mental health stressors.
Meg Hanna highlighted the broader implications:
"Trees are essential green infrastructure for supporting resilient communities," Meg Hanna stated. "The SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard provides a roadmap for municipalities to ensure that urban forests remain a lasting source of benefit for all."
York Region's pioneering certification illuminates a path forward, showcasing the tangible benefits of embracing rigorous standards in urban forestry. It's a call to action for municipalities across North America to invest in their green infrastructure, fostering resilient and vibrant communities for generations to come.
About Preferred by Nature
Preferred by Nature is an international nonprofit organization working to support better land management and business practices that benefit people, nature and climate. The organization operates in over 100 countries, with a focus on land use sectors such as forestry, agriculture and climate impact commodities. Preferred by Nature promotes sustainability through projects, certification services, capacity building and tailored support to drive positive change in production landscapes and supply chains. The organization is accredited to deliver SFI certification services through the Standards Council of Canada.
About the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) advances sustainability through forest-focused collaboration. We are an independent, nonprofit organization that leverages four interconnected pillars of work: standards, conservation, community, and education. SFI works with the forest sector, conservation groups, academics, researchers, brand owners, resource professionals, landowners, educators, local communities, Indigenous Peoples, and governments. Collaborating with our network, we leverage SFI-certified forests and products as powerful tools to help solve sustainability challenges such as climate action, conservation of biodiversity, education of future generations, and sustainable economic development.
About the Regional Municipality of York
The Regional Municipality of York consists of nine local cities and towns and provides a variety of programs and services to over 1.25 million residents and 57,000 businesses with more than 629,000 employees. More information about the Region’s key service areas is available at on their website.