Poor weather, staff shortages and even some community hostility to new trees have slowed the expansion of Canberra's urban forest.
Key points:
- The government planted 5,350 fewer trees than scheduled over the last year
- Some residents have removed street trees illegally
- People who damage trees may be fined up to $80,000 from next year
The ACT government aims to have tree canopies covering 30 per cent of suburban areas by 2045, including public and private land.
However, it fell behind schedule over the past year, planting 5,350 fewer trees than intended — a shortfall of 30 per cent.
The City Services Directorate said several factors were to blame.
Its annual report referred to procurement delays, staff turnover, limited contractor availability and "persistent wet weather impeding access for planting".
It also cited "refusal of street tree plantings by adjacent residents".
Meanwhile, a separate government report identifies damage to street trees, and their illegal removal, as a threat to the urban forest.
However, the directorate does not publish details of where or how many trees are illegally felled.
Parking on nature strips harms street trees
ACT Environment and Sustainability Commissioner Sophie Lewis, who monitors the government's progress, said the extent of illegal felling was unclear.
She speculated that Canberrans might remove street trees because they wanted to park vehicles on their nature strips, they disliked the species or they simply didn't want trees near their home.
Nature strips are public land and parking on them is illegal in the ACT. Those who do it can be fined up to $3,200.
Nonetheless, it remains a common practice across most suburbs.
The directorate has highlighted the damage this parking causes, saying cars permanently compact the soil, which removes air and the ability of water to seep into the soil.
Parked vehicles also crush tree roots.
The directorate says street trees reduce stormwater run-off, cool suburbs down, are vital for wildlife and are associated with higher property prices.
Environment Minister Rebecca Vasserotti said everyone loved having trees in their area, but they "sometimes present some challenges" for individuals.
"Sometimes there's issues around safety, and around amenity, and there are sometimes some challenges with competing needs around things like solar panels," she said.
She said Canberrans could influence how trees were planted in their street and asked them to become involved.
"Community members can identify areas where there needs to be trees," she said.
"There is work that's done to identify the best species of trees to be planted in different areas of the city — this is an ongoing piece of work."
Tougher tree protection laws from next year
Despite the recent setbacks, Ms Vasserotti said the government was confident it would achieve its 30 per cent canopy target.
She cited new laws which come into effect on January 1 next year, which will protect more trees and increase penalties against those who harm them.
Under the changes, smaller trees on private property will be protected against removal. This will include trees at least 8 metres high (12 metres under current law) or with a circumference of at least 1 metre (1.5 metres currently).
Large, dead, native trees will also be protected, to provide more habitat for animals.
A person who intentionally damages a protected tree will face a fine of up to $80,000, a change from the current maximum of $64,000.
The minister said the new laws were an important step forward.
"It will see many more trees being required to be protected across our city," she said.
"This is in recognition of how important trees are [as] our living infrastructure.
"We know that trees make our city cooler and, particularly as we move into a climate that is hotter and warmer, that will be really important."
Balancing urban forest with higher density 'a challenge'
Dr Lewis said expanding the urban forest as Canberra's suburbs became more densely populated would require a carefully balanced approach.
"There is a real challenge to ensure we have space for people as well as space for trees," she said.
"As we densify our suburbs and we add new infrastructure, it can crowd out trees and it can impact tree health."
Another emerging problem was the need to provide houses with solar access while protecting trees that kept suburbs cool, Dr Lewis said.
"We need to ensure a careful balance of sustainability principles, but also ensure that we aren't risking mature trees," she said.
"There is a potential trade-off and it will become a bigger issue as we focus on infill."