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Nov_ Rich P comments on CRRP1 Northampton Climate Resilience and Regeneration Plan (CRRP) Comments on Draft submitted by the Tree Warden & Northampton Public Shade Tree Commission Submitted November 2, 2019 SUMMARY COMMENTS: ● We find the CRRP confusing to navigate, hard to read, and jargon filled. ● We don’t understand how the CRRP will integrate into Northampton’s overarching Master Plan when 1) we understand that the Master Plan will undergo its own review in 2020, and 2) we anticipate that plans for carbon reduction and climate change preparedness will need to infuse every aspect of our Master Plan. Therefore, we ask if it makes more sense for the content of the CRRP not to stand as a separate document, but to be fully, seamlessly integrated into an updated Master Plan. ● While the CRRP plan is ambitious (city-wide carbon neutrality by 2050), the International Panel on Climate Change calls for 45% emissions reductions by 2030 in order to limit temperature rise to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius and escape tipping points for catastrophic climate change. Therefore, nearly half of our emission reductions need to occur in the next 10 years, the time when Northampton’s latest Master Plan will be relevant. In this extremely short timeline, we think the Master Plan must contain metrics, targets, goals and timelines to keep us on this tight timeline and ensure accountability. An example of a nationally recognized climate action plan that creates clear metrics and targets is the Climate Action and Resilience Plan of Evanston, IL-- clear, outcome focused, and easily navigable. ● The Plan makes little reference to the role of the urban forest in achieving carbon reduction (directly and indirectly) and strengthening our climate resilience and capacity for regeneration. We feel inclusion of Northampton’s urban forestry goals in its Master Plan is crucial for the realization of its goals as a climate resilient and walkable city. For a separate detailed summary of specific edits to the CRRP, (if the City decides to move forward with it in its current form), please see SPECIFIC COMMENTS below. Additionally, we reference Evanston’s Climate Action and Resilience Plan, p. 20-21: Urban Canopy and Green Space as an example of a municipality highlighting urban forestry (with timeline and targets) in its climate action plan. The 2016 Climate Ready Boston Plan also cites the importance of urban trees (p. 128). See also “Addendum” at bottom for science-based articles on the role of urban trees in reducing carbon emissions (directly and indirectly through its many co- benefits) and increasing resilience. 2 SPECIFIC COMMENTS: Recognition: 1. Inclusion of a section describing and affirming the role of the urban forest in mitigating and buffering us from climate change, and in making us a walkable city--providing significant natural cooling, UV and air pollution reduction, wind blocking, stormwater management, carbon sequestration, traffic mitigation; aesthetic and wildlife enhancement; promotion of bike and pedestrian modes of travel. 2. A call-out box or section in the plan recognizing the work already completed in advancing Northampton’s urban forest. Here are some points that could be included in such a call-out box: ● The political and budgetary commitment of the Mayor and City Council to Northampton’s urban forestry program, including establishment via City’s charter of the Tree Warden and Public Shade Tree Commission, the creation of the new Forestry, Parks & Cemetery Division within the DPW, and the City’s commitment since 2016 to planting 2000+ public shade trees over 10 years. ● The mission of Northampton’s Public Shade Tree Commission which directly references climate change: “The Commission advises and assists the Tree Warden and Mayor in researching and developing plans, programs and policies for achieving a tree canopy that supports Northampton's goals of public health, beautification, economic and environmental sustainability, and resilience in the face of climate change.” ● The partnerships between Northampton’s Tree Warden, the Public Shade Tree Commission, and the 100+ volunteer force of Tree Northampton resulting in the planting, watering and pruning of 1000 street trees in four years, as well as the engagement and education of hundreds of members of the public including school children. ● The state and regional honors bestowed upon the City of Northampton for its transformative urban forestry program including, ○ 2019 International Society of Arborists (NE chapter) Gold Leaf Awards to Northampton’s urban forestry program, Public Shade Tree Commission, and to the collaborating organization Tree Northampton, Inc. ○ 2016, 2017 & 2018 Tree City USA Growth Awards 3 ○ Hosting of and feature focus on Northampton at DCR’s 2018 Tree City USA Award event ○ 2019 Tree Warden of the Year award to Rich Parasiliti ○ Spotlight of our successful municipal program in both the June 2019 DCR “Citizen Forester” and the April 2019 Journal of the International Society of Arborists. ○ Full award (2016, 2019) of two large DCR grants--including one grant to fund a public shade tree inventory (completed in 2016, see Appendix below), and one grant to model best practices in addressing urban heat islands in environmental justice location through proper shade tree plantings. Commitments: We recommend the City adopt clear short, time-specific commitments to urban forest coverage and regular assessments. Examples of clear targets and timelines related to urban forest: Increase overall tree canopy coverage especially in commercial and urban residential districts with emphasis on environmental justice zones, retail districts, parking lots, walking/biking corridors, bus stops, community centers, and forested microclimates. ● By 2021, map all existing forested microclimates in urban residential districts to identify areas of high cooling function. ● Increase to 40% the total canopy coverage in downtown Northampton and Florence, with an increase in 2% every 3 years. ○ Evaluate with best available analysis tools every 3 years tree canopy coverage, total biomass, and temperatures in microclimates ○ Demand improved monitoring and fixing of gas leaks to prevent methane poisoning. ■ Work regionally to require all leaks near trees be considered Grade 2 leaks. ■ Increase required canopy coverage of new parking lots to X% 4 ■ Extend period required to assess the health of new parking lot trees and replace if dying or dead ○ Plant 250-300 public shade trees/year with a net gain of: ○ By 2025: 500 public shade trees ○ By 2030: 1000 public shade trees ○ By 2035: 1750 public shade trees ○ By 2040: 2500 public shade trees ○ By 2050: Planting in every location required for maximum possible canopy coverage of streets and parking lots ● Strengthen public shade tree population by increasing species diversity and selecting species resilient to new climatic conditions ○ Annual update and dissemination of Northampton’s Tree List and Planting Guidelines using such guides as Trees for 2050 published by the Chicago Botanic Garden ○ Annual review of % total tree inventory by species, striving for no greater than 15% per any one species ● Improve habitat quality of public shade trees by achieving canopy of 65-70% trees native to Eastern US ○ Annual review of % total tree inventory by native versus non-native ● Strengthen the Significant Tree Ordinance (STO) to better encourage preservation of privately-owned, mature, healthy shade trees, and to better reflect the true replacement cost of significant tree removal. ○ Create a database of Northampton’s “champion” trees by species ○ Draft update of STO by December 2019, adopt by Mar 2020 ● Target shade tree plantings around municipal buildings to reduce energy consumption ○ 2020 Identify all municipal buildings with potential for cooling through shade tree planting ○ 2030 Plant 50% of identified sites ○ 2040 Plant 100% of identified sites ● Commitment to urban tree planting and maintenance at a level sufficient to achieve its goals for expanding the urban tree canopy to X% coverage. ● Commitment to incorporate Tree Warden and Public Shade Tree Commission in earliest stage of all design review processes. 5 It is unclear to us where inclusion of a section on Urban Tree Canopy would best fit in the structure of the CRRP, especially since urban trees provide co-benefits that cut across numerous aspects of this plan. Perhaps in Energy 3B. We offer numerous recommendations. Other specific comments by page: P. 2 Under Acknowledgments, include Tree Warden Rich Parasiliti P. 8 Good place for a Call-Out box of successful urban forestry program. 2nd paragraph citing past successes, add “planted over 1000 public shade trees” P.12 Table: Under Energy 2, insert “Target shade tree plantings around municipal buildings to reduce energy consumption” P.12 Table: Under Energy 3B: Continue to protect...city’s forestland (add and urban forest) and its capacity to … P. 13: Table: Under Water 1C: Produce a green infrastructure (add including a street tree planting) plan… P. 15: Table: Under Human Experience 1: Plant trees in EJ zones to promote walking P. 16 Table: Health & Safety 2: Under Build out the city’s “cooling capacity” through (add street trees), parks and recreational sites. Insert: Map, identify and protect existing and potential cool microclimates in urban residential zones P. 19 First sentence, “The fossil fuels we use for generating electricity, heating (add and cooling) our homes… P. 21 Second sentence, “...including (add decreased air quality especially in summer) (See Air quality in Pioneer Valley continues to be sub-par) P. 22 Re “From 1970 to 2000...6 days with max. Temperatures of 90F each year which is expected to increase to 16-42 days by 2050” This sentence is missing actual current data and making it seem like the worst increases are still decades away. There were at least 16 days above 90 in 2018. Add current data. 6 P. 42 Under Pathway 3: Second sentence, “This will require a wide variety of actions...public investment in city buildings (add and well-sited shade trees near buildings)... P. 43 Under Pathway 7: Sentence beginning with, “Northampton has made the use of sustainable transportation modes…; investing in “complete streets” that make room for walkers and cyclists within city roads; (add planting shade trees that improve the experience of waking and biking;)...and helping to launch ValleyBike...In order to make further progress...further expand the bike share program, (add plant more street trees)...as well as focus… P. 44/45 Pathway 9: Carbon Sequestration and Offsets--this section strangely minimizes the role of woody plants, notably mature trees, in storing and sequestering carbon. Yes, soil stores carbon, but the way soil draws carbon from the atmosphere (which it needs to do, we all agree) is when photosynthesizing plants take root and break down into it. Second sentence "Urban areas, in particular, retain significant percentages of soil cover that can positively contribute to regenerative land practices and climate change mitigation," does not make sense to us. The sentence “...these practices will likely become much more important strategies as the city’s emissions approach zero” seems to ignore the reality that 1) mature urban trees take a human lifetime to grow, so delaying action on carbon sequestration through tree planting is a poor strategy, and 2) mature urban trees are not only stores of carbon, but offer numerous co- benefits that also lead to reduced carbon emissions (stormwater, building cooling, wind block, walking/biking promotion, etc). Therefore, the urban tree’s net capacity to reduce carbon emissions is greater than a tree of the same size in a stand in the forest. P. 48: To what extent does the “Northampton Designs with Nature” include well-sited shade trees? P. 49: Pathway 3 Healthy and Resilient Natural Ecosystems: This paragraph is very general and confusing. What specifically is it recommending, especially in relation to urban shade trees? Why are Energy 3A-3D all focused on soil health? 7 P. 49 Pathway 4 Resilient and Connected Landscapes: We support the statement, “Priorities for land protection include areas denoted in…” We wonder whether the next sentence is a strong enough statement to clearly prohibit large scale solar PV development in these areas, “This shall be done by discouraging or prohibiting land use development and solar…” Suggest strengthening language. P. 50 Second column, “These could include job training or career development in areas such as…” replace: “climate-resilient street tree care” with “urban forestry” P. 58 First Column--we support the last sentence re assessing “the ecological and carbon impacts of any tree removal...to the extent possible.” P. 62 In addition to NZE standards, include encouragement of well-placed shade trees near building to reduce energy needs. P. 65 Energy 3B: Continue to protect, grow and enhance the city’s (add urban canopy), forestland and its capacity to store carbon Add 1-2 paragraphs here on urban tree canopy including the importance of preserving existing mature urban trees. This especially includes stands of trees that not only store carbon but create micro-climates whose cooling effects ripple out in otherwise hot zones. See recent research on wide variance of temperatures in cities due to presence/absence of trees. P. 66 Energy 3C Title: Support education and training in (add urban forestry), regenerative agriculture systems,... Here, there could be an entire paragraph on urban forestry. UMass Stockbridge has an urban forestry program that could be highlighted P. 67 Energy 3E, Greenhouse Gas Emissions Offset Community Fund FYI, the Tree Commission is in the early stages of conceiving of a carbon offset plan for public shade tree planting. 8 P. 70 Reference to Northampton Designs with Nature and design opportunities, we suggest the Tree Warden be included in discussion of these design opportunities. P. 75 Second paragraph second sentence, “Invest in sidewalks, (add street trees), and complete streets…” P. 77 Transportation 2A Under bullet “Continue to install community amenities like bike lanes, (add street trees), sidewalks… p. 86 Health & Safety 2A Title: Build out the city’s cooling capacity through (add street trees), parks and recreational sites Note here tree planting zones that are identified high public benefit/high priority by the Public Shade Tree Commission: ● High traffic corridors ● Environmental justice areas ● Retail districts ● Parking lots ● Walking/biking corridors ● Bus stops ● Community centers such as schools & health facilities Under Energy Efficiency and Conservation there's no mention of trees contributing to cooling nor is there mention of trees in the transportation section. In the stormwater section there is mention of green infrastructure but no mention of the role trees play throughout the city! p. 88 Health & Safety 3B--Conduct a tree and forest ecosystems vulnerability and adaptations assessment It is unclear whether street trees are included but it sounds like it's only referring to "stands" of trees, which are not defined. Please define. 9 This assessment should include forest microclimates within urban residential zones (especially those at risk of conversion) that provide vital function to surrounding neighborhoods including reducing heat island effect, violent storm buffering, and storm water mitigation. Also, worth noting here that Emerald Ash Borer was identified in Northampton in 2018, and will soon result in 100% mortality of our Ash tree population. Appendix 2019 national research on urban trees and microclimates--Temperatures can vary as much as 20 degrees in the same city depending on presence of shade trees. 2014 regional research (central & western MA)-- The Energy Benefits of Trees: Investigating Shading, Microclimate and Wind Shielding Effects in Worcester and Springfield, Massachusetts 2019 global research in Science: The restoration of trees remains among the most effective strategies for climate change mitigation 2018 Climate Action and Resilience Plan, Evanston, IL 2016 Northampton Tree Inventory and Management Plan prepared by Davey Resource Group 2018 Northampton Tree List and Planting Guidelines Trees for 2050, Chicago Botanic Garden Complete Inventory of Northampton’s Public Shade Trees (created 2016, updated continuously) June 2019 DCR Citizen Forester: The Evolution of Urban Forestry in Northampton Charter establishing Northampton’s Public Shade Tree Commission 10 2018: Air quality in Pioneer Valley continues to be sub-par 2011: Alliance for Community Trees’ Benefits of Trees and Urban Forests 2018: Measuring the CO2 Capturing Prowess of Urban Forests 2019: Declining urban and community tree cover in the United States 2019:US cities are losing 36 million trees a year. Here's why it matters and how you can stop it 2019: Public health study: premature deaths from excess heat in the US would double without urban tree canopies (original peer-reviewed article here) 2019: To get the full temperature benefit, tree canopy cover should exceed 40% of the area to be cooled