Summary

The Town of Tecumseh’s Urban Forestry and Naturalization Management Plan (UFNMP) provides a comprehensive 20-year strategic framework to manage, protect, and enhance the Town’s collective "green infrastructure". As the Town navigates growth and climate change, this Plan transitions Tecumseh from a reactive management style to a proactive, sustainable model that recognizes trees as vital municipal assets.

Vision and Pillars

The UFNMP is guided by a vision where Tecumseh nurtures a resilient and flourishing urban forest, recognizing trees and natural areas as shared community assets. Implementation is built upon five core pillars:

• Knowledge-Based Decisions: Using data and inventory to guide management.
• Adaptability: Remaining responsive to environmental changes and new information.
• Collaboration: Strengthening the connection between the Town, residents, and Indigenous partners.
• Resilience: Building an urban forest capable of withstanding climate stressors.
• Sustainability: Ensuring the long-term health and growth of the canopy

Key Recommendations & Strategies

The Plan outlines 27 specific recommendations categorized into four strategic themes:

1. Management & Maintenance
   • Proactive Care: Transitioning to a 7–8 year pruning cycle for street trees and a 10-year cycle for park trees.
   • New Leadership: Creating a full-time Town Arborist position to oversee operations and asset management.
   • Young Tree Health: Implementing a structural pruning program to ensure newly planted trees survive to maturity.
2. Establishment & Enhancement
   • Planting Targets: Increasing annual planting to 500+ trees per year.
   • Right Tree, Right Place, Right Reason: Adopting standardized species selection and planting specifications to build biodiversity and climate resilience.
   • Naturalization: Identifying tree and vegetation planting opportunities in public spaces to enhance the urban forest and restore ecological connectivity.
3. Urban Forest Protection
   • Public Tree By-law: Approving a new by-law to protect and compensate for the loss of municipal tree assets.
   • Construction Safeguards: Implementing tree protection guidance and processes for building permits and capital projects.
4. Outreach & Stewardship
   • Partnerships: Strengthening ties with Indigenous Nations, school boards, and local stewardship groups.
   • Public Education: Enhancing the Town’s digital resources to help residents care for trees on private property.

Implementation and Monitoring

The UFNMP is designed for long-term success through a structured approach to tracking progress. The Town will monitor key performance indicators, such as tree survival rates, canopy coverage updates, and service delivery timelines. Regular assessments will allow for adaptive management, ensuring policies and operations are adjusted based on real-world outcomes and environmental shifts.

Implementation is prioritized across three distinct horizons to ensure manageable progress. Short-term (1-2 years) priorities focus on foundational policy updates, including the adoption of the Public Tree By-law and the creation of a Town Arborist position. Medium-term (3-8 years) actions expand operational capacity, such as establishing an in-house maintenance crew and launching cyclical pruning programs. Finally, Long-term (8+ years) goals involve large-scale landscape connectivity, land securement for naturalization, and the full consolidation of urban forest operations.

Next Steps

• Public Information Centre #2 will be held on Tuesday, April 21 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the Horwood Room at the Tecumseh Arena, 12021 McNorton Street, Tecumseh, ON