Urban Forest Questions for HRM Candidates – District 9 Candidate Kyle Woodbury

Halifax Diverse has been active in urban environmental stewardship for four years and we understand the importance of a healthy urban forest to thriving cities. With the upcoming municipal election (online now and at the polls on October 15), we wanted to find out if all candidates plan to be good urban forest stewards. We asked the same nine questions of all 56 municipal candidates and 26 replied (click here for the entire list).Here are Kyle Woodbury’s (Candidate for Councillor, Halifax West Armdale) answers to our questions.Candidate’s responses are in regular font, like this!1.         Why are trees important to you?They provide natural beauty to the HRM, and various environmental benefits.2.         Can you relate a fond memory of trees or a tree in particular?The first time I was successfully able to climb a tree at the age of 6.3.         Why are trees important in HRM and your district in particular?They provide a natural beauty to district 9, while offering significant environmental benefits and improving citizens quality of life.HRM’s Urban Forest Master PlanThe HRM UFMP is a council endorsed plan co-written by HRM staff and members of Dalhousie University’s School for Resource and Environmental Studies. This award winning document provides guidance for the management of HRM’s urban forest into the future using a novel neighbourhood system developed specifically for the UFMP that divides the sewer and water serviced areas of HRM into 111 neighbourhoods. It can be found digitally at: http://www.halifax.ca/property/UFMP/documents/SecondEditionHRMUFMP.pdf4.         Which UFMP neighbourhoods does your district occupy (if applicable)?Ashburn Golf Course, Armdale, Fairmount, Dutch Village, West end, Quinpool/Connaught, Cowie Hill, Stonemount, Melville Cove 1 and 2, Williamswood, Jollimore and BoulderwoodThe following are priorities of the UFMP implementation strategy, as described in the UFMP, and are to be implemented within the initial 5-year timeframe:a.         Increase funding, plant more trees on HRM land and improve urban forest maintenance. b.         Adopt new regulations and standards to conserve urban forest canopy cover. c.         Promote citizen urban forest stewardship and develop educational programs. 5.         As we approach the end of the 5-year initial time-frame in 2017, do you believe these priorities have been adequately addressed? Where is there room for the most significant improvement?No, more can be done to implement the urban forest design.Looking Forward6.         What do you believe is the greatest threat to the HRM urban forest? In your district specifically?Further suburban development without consideration environmental impact7.         What role do you suggest citizens play in supporting a healthy urban forest?Push for further green initiatives through local environmental advocacy groups to both local and provincial governments. 8.         How will you promote and contribute to a healthy urban forest as councilor?Helping guide sustainable community development.9.         What changes would you like to see to your district’s urban forest in the next 10 years?Preserving and expanding the green spaces we have.–Thank you to Kyle Woodbury and all the other candidates who took the time to answer our questionnaire. We hope that our new municipal government will continue to improve urban forest stewardship in HRM to protect a vital natural resource that cannot be taken for granted. Voters are encouraged to challenge their candidates’ stance on this and other environmental issues to ensure our municipal government strives for environmental sustainability. Anyone interested in learning more about the Urban Forest Master Plan can learn more from the document, found here, or the UFMP page, found here. Please join Halifax Diverse on facebook for environmental programming, news, and more.