Urban Forest Management Strategy

The City of Langley is developing an Urban Forest Management Strategy (UFMS) to guide the long-term planning and management of Langley’s urban forest.

The City of Langley’s urban forest is comprised of forests in distinct natural areas surrounding the urban core, including forest parks, wetlands, as well as urban trees along streets, in parks, and in private yards. The urban forest provides important benefits to the community – it supports high levels of biodiversity, provides high-value recreation opportunities, improves air quality, manages stormwater, and beautifies neighbourhoods. Langley’s urban forest also plays a critical role in the culture of Host Nations (The q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), Máthxwi (Matsqui), q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie) and e’mya’me (Semiahmoo) First Nations) as well as the City’s character and identity.

However, the City’s urban forest is being put under increasing stress from the impacts of climate change such as drought, extreme weather, pests, and diseases. Moreover, the densification of the City’s compact urban fabric to accommodate a growing population is anticipated to present both opportunities and challenges in meeting the Official Community Plan’s policy to “expand and strengthen the existing tree canopy”.

To respond to these challenges and opportunities, the City of Langley is seeking to develop a UFMS that establishes a clear and long-term vision and guidance for the city-wide urban forest growth and management for the next 30 years (to 2050). The UFMS will provide short-, medium-, and long-term recommendations to shift urban forest management towards achieving the City’s strategic objectives and align with other relevant policies such as the Official Community Plan.

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