Protecting trees on construction sites isn’t just environmentally responsible and the right thing to do, it’s also a legal requirement in the City of Calgary. Any construction site that’s going to be doing work near trees located on public land needs to be aware of the risks to trees, and the government also requires a plan to be submitted that will lay out how those trees will be protected.
With so much to organize before work starts on a construction site, it can be easy to put tree protection low on your priority list. Instead, let’s look at why tree protection is so important and how to devise a plan that helps our environment and meets local regulations.
Why Protecting Trees Matters
Calgary has long worked hard to maintain its urban forest, and for good reason. In addition to the obvious aesthetic benefits that trees provide, whether in parks or on Calgary’s streets, they also have substantial environmental benefits.
The City of Calgary is working to grow its tree canopy from 8.25% to 16% by 2060 and has planted over 200,000 trees between 2022 and 2024, and removing or damaging them because of construction goes against those goals.
There are many reasons why protecting trees is important:
- Trees absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen.
- They provide habitats for birds and other wildlife, helping maintain biodiversity in the urban environment.
- They provide shade and protection from the wind, both of which can be enormously important in a city like Calgary.
- Calgary’s trees have often grown over decades. The cost of replacing them is substantially more expensive than protecting them during construction.
The City of Calgary’s Tree Protection Rules
For any construction or demolition project that takes place with six metres of a tree that is on public land, the City of Calgary requires a Tree Protection Plan.
The City insists on a tree protection plan for a number of reasons:
- 99% of a tree’s roots are found within one metre of the trunk, so moving heavy equipment near the tree can cause irreparable damage.
- After a tree has established itself in a space, any activity that changes soil conditions or disturbs branches, trunks, or root systems can seriously harm its health.
- It can take as long as 10 years for an injured tree to show signs of decline, which adds to the importance of protecting trees proactively.
What Goes Into a Tree Protection Plan?
A tree protection plan is meant to keep trees with roots on public land safe during construction or demolition projects. Here’s a step-by-step guide to a Tree Protection Plan in Calgary:
- Public tree disclosure statement: This is part of the City of Calgary’s development and building permit process, and every application requires a disclosure statement so the city’s parks department can determine possible damage to public trees.
- Pre-construction meeting: For those who need more information on tree protection plans, the city encourages them to call 311 to schedule a pre-construction meeting with an Urban Forestry Technician to discuss further.
- Prepare Your Tree Protection Plan: The plan itself requires the identification of all trees and shrubs within six metres of the construction site, as well as the tree protection zones, where construction materials will be stored, the equipment that will be used on public lands and pre- and post-construction care measures that will be taken such as watering, mulching, and soil aeration, among other things.
- Submit Your Tree Protection Plan: Plans should be submitted with site plans and development permits to the Parks Urban Forestry Tree Protection Plan office.
How to Protect Trees on a Construction Site
The best tree protection method on a construction site is pretty straightforward: Avoid damaging or disturbing the tree in any way possible.
The tree’s roots are the most important area to protect. Injuries that are visible, like broken branches and torn bark, aren’t nearly as problematic as damage to the root system, and it can often take years for the impact of that damage to become visible.
That means that installing temporary fencing around the root zone of a tree on public land on or near a construction site is absolutely vital.
Temporary fencing will create a boundary around a tree and its roots, preventing heavy equipment from causing irreparable damage. The City of Calgary requires that the fencing around trees be at least 1.2-metres high and extend 4 metres from the tree trunk that will be protected.
Quality Fencing for Tree Protection on Your Construction Site
Getting the right fencing for tree protection matters, and FenceLine Rentals Ltd. provides high-quality, durable temporary fencing designed to keep your construction site safe and secure. It’s perfect for creating important barriers around trees that will keep them safe from heavy equipment and the other inevitable hazards that arise on a construction site.
Why Choose FenceLine?
- Our temporary fencing comes in a wide range of heights and lengths and is scalable for all applications. That flexibility will allow you to meet the City of Calgary’s requirements and create safe spaces that prevent damage to trees on or around your construction site.
- Our durable temporary fencing can be rented or purchased and is designed to withstand the elements throughout all four seasons and even the most extreme Alberta weather, providing tree protection year-round.
Keep Trees Safe with FenceLine’s Easy Solution
Tree protection is an important goal on construction sites in Calgary, and the right temporary fencing can make all the difference in ensuring that trees in the city can stay happy and healthy even while they grow and develop.
FenceLine Rentals Ltd. can help you create a safe and secure barrier around trees on your construction site to help ensure that Calgary can maintain its urban canopy and be greener than ever.
For more information on how our team can help you meet your tree protection goals on construction sites, call us at (782)825-5737 or contact us online.