Thunder Bay is proudly a Tree City of the World.
This program, administered by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Arbor Day Foundation, recognizes municipalities around the world that have taken strides to manage their urban forest.
There are 5 Standards
- Establish Responsibility
- The city has a written statement by city leaders delegating responsibility for the care of trees within the municipal boundary to a staff member, a city department, or a group of citizens—called a Tree Board.
- Set the Rules
- The city has in place a law or an official policy that governs the management of forests and trees. These rules describe how work must be performed—often citing best practices or industry standards for tree care and worker safety—where and when they apply, and penalties for noncompliance.
- Know What You Have
- The city has an updated inventory or assessment of the local tree resource so that an effective long-term plan for planting, care, and removal of city trees can be established.
- Allocate the Resources
- The city has a dedicated annual budget for the routine implementation of the tree management plan.
- Celebrate Achievements
- The city holds an annual celebration of trees to raise awareness among residents and to acknowledge citizens and staff members who carry out the city tree programme.
Below you can listen to the entire interview I did with the remarkable Lisa Laco on the Superior Morning show she hosted for 23 years. May she rest in piece. You can also read more on CBC.