Woodlands given added protection Tue, September 19, 2006 By JOE BELANGER, FREE PRESS CITY HALL REPORTER

With an election looming and a gallery full of voters cheering them on, London city council last night approved a policy to protect its dwindling woodlands. But the vote didn't come without a bid to delay a decision until after the Nov. 13 election.

"We need to be firm and committed to the (Forest City) brand of our city," said Coun. Joni Baechler, who led the push for a new policy. Baechler's impassioned plea drew applause and cheers from a boisterous gallery of more than 50 onlookers, several carrying signs. "If we can't be the benchmark for forest coverage, how can we hold that brand," Baechler said. "It's our responsibility to protect that brand." Council voted 16-1 to amend the official plan to make it easier to designate woodlands significant and protected from development. The move protects an estimated 96 per cent of the 135 woodlands on 1,700 hectares of undeveloped land outside the city's urban growth area. Coun. Paul Van Meerbergen was the lone dissenting voice, arguing for more consultation with affected property owners. Three council members shared Van Meerbergen's view: Deputy Mayor Tom Gosnell and councillors Rob Alder and Roger Caranci. A delay would have meant no guarantee of approval by the new council. But council rejected that motion 13-4. City staff and some council members say London risks losing its Forest City brand and violating provincial policy calling for protection of natural areas, especially woodlands.

But some landowners, developers and politicians said a change in how woodlands are evaluated is unnecessary, infringes on property rights and lowers values. The development industry has challenged the new policy. Gosnell also argued there's confusion about London's tree cover, which may be low because of farmland the city absorbed with annexation in 1993. He was also skeptical that 96 per cent of the remaining woodlands are "significant." "Not every woodlot is significant, although the majority probably are," Gosnell said. "There has to be a balanced approach." Gosnell called for more tree planting and better management of significant woodlots to ensure they remain healthy. "I'm not quite as despondent about our tree coverage (as) some members of council," he said.

But other councillors, including David Winninger, Harold Usher and Judy Bryant, said council has a chance to leave a legacy. "This is a legacy for this council and we can't delay this," Winninger said. Said Usher, "It's our children who are going to blame us if we continue to cut down woodlands. They're the ones who will have to live with a lower quality of life." Bryant said the issue is also about the health of residents. The vote comes less than a year after the city celebrated a 150th anniversary that made tree- planting a priority. A committee called Reforest London 150 was set up to oversee the effort. Measuring the significance of woodlots looks at factors such as tree species, age and size of woodlot and quality. The policy will leave the city with an estimated 3,300 hectares of woodland equalling 7.8 per cent of its area. The city's total tree cover is estimated at 16.2 per cent.

HOW THEY VOTED - In favour of a new policy to protect woodlands: Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco, Deputy Mayor Tom Gosnell, controllers Russ Monteith, Bud Polhill and Gord Hume and councillors Bernie MacDonald, David Winninger, Susan Eagle, Sandy White, Judy Bryant, Rob Alder, Ab Chahbar, Roger Caranci, Joni Baechler, Bill Armstrong and Harold Usher. - Opposed: Coun. Paul Van Meerbergen - Absent: Councillors Cheryl Miller and Fred Tranquilli