Vancouver Urban Forestry

Executive Summary

Summary

The City of Vancouver's Urban Forestry Work Plan for 2025–2026 sees trees as an essential part of public infrastructure, necessary for keeping the air and water clean, lowering the risk of flooding, boosting the local economy, and supporting the health and resilience of the community.

Vancouver's plan shows how local governments can use Best Available Science (BAS) to protect critical areas, reduce pollution, and fairly increase tree canopy coverage. It is based on Washington State's Growth Management Act (RCW 36.70A.172), Shoreline Management Act (RCW 90.58), and Community and Urban Forest Act (RCW 76.15).

1. Keeping important places and waterways safe

Vancouver's first line of defense against flooding and dirty water is trees.  The city's forests already catch hundreds of thousands of gallons of rainwater, filter stormwater, and stabilize the slopes along Vancouver Lake, Burnt Bridge Creek, and the Columbia River. They do this with only 21% canopy coverage.

The plan follows the Vancouver Municipal Codes that directly support the RCW mandates:

• VMC 12.04 (Street Trees) — tells people how to plant, care for, and remove trees to keep the canopy from falling.

• VMC 20.770 (Tree, Vegetation, and Soil Conservation) protects plants on slopes, in wetlands, and in riparian zones that have been marked as critical areas.

The city ensures that tree canopy is recognized as green infrastructure with measurable hydrological and filtration benefits by connecting tree protection to Low Impact Development (LID) and stormwater permits. This is similar to Tacoma's BMP L615 model for stormwater compliance.

For every dollar we spend on our urban forest today, our area will get more than $2.50 in benefits over the next 40 years."  — Guide to Community Trees in Western Washington and Oregon

2. Resilience to climate change and the environment

The Work Plan puts a number on the environmental benefits that trees provide:

• 100 mature trees catch about 250,000 gallons of rainwater each year. • They take in five tons of carbon dioxide, 500 pounds of pollutants from the air, and lower temperatures by up to 10°F.

The Washington Clean Air Act (RCW 70A.15) and RCW 90.58 require that shoreline zones retain their ecological functions. These natural climate services help meet that goal.

Vancouver's goals for restoring the canopy are also in line with RCW 76.15, which establishes city forest programs that improve air quality, connect habitats, and enhance soil health.

Vancouver integrates canopy restoration with flood protection, urban heat reduction, and pollution absorption, positioning trees as a primary defense against climate change to enhance safety for both the environment and residents.

3. Community Health and Public Health

The plan makes it clear that there is a direct link between tree cover and public health:

• Trees filter out small particles (PM₂.₅), which lowers the chances of getting asthma, heart disease, and illnesses caused by heat.

• Green spaces encourage exercise, lower stress, and improve mental health. These benefits were shown in studies by Dr. Kathleen Wolf (University of Washington) on the Human Dimensions of Urban Forestry.

• To find low-canopy, high-exposure areas for tree planting, we use Washington Health Disparities and CEJST maps. This is in line with RCW 43.70.820 (Health Equity Act) and ensures that all communities receive the same level of environmental protection.

Vancouver's approach to environmental justice is to plant trees where heat and pollution pose the most significant health risks.

4. Benefits for the economy and property values

Urban trees provide quantifiable economic benefits:

• For every dollar invested, the ecosystem and economy get $2.50 in benefits.

Vancouver Work-Plan-25-26 • Properties with large, mature trees are worth up to 10% more, and tree-lined commercial areas have 11% more retail sales.

Businesses and residents see canopy coverage as a sign of the area's health, safety, and quality of life.

These results support RCW 35.92.010, which gives cities the power to spend public funds on green infrastructure that benefits the public.

5. Vancouver's plan shows that it follows essential laws:

The state of Washington's Growth Management Act (RCW 36.70A.172) and the Urban and Community Forestry Act (RCW 76.15) require the City of Vancouver to follow the Best Available Science (BAS) rules.  These laws view trees as crucial public infrastructure that help keep the air and water clean and the slope stable.  Vancouver's codes connect protecting trees with managing stormwater, conserving soil, and making the city more resilient to climate change. They are an example of science-based environmental governance.

VMC 12.04 — Taking Care of Street Trees and Public Right-of-Way

Purpose and Scope:

Vancouver Municipal Code 12.04 sets rules for planting, caring for, and removing trees in public rights-of-way.  The law sets out the rules under which both the city and property owners are responsible for maintaining public trees.

Important Parts:

·       A Street Tree Permit is required for planting, pruning, or removing trees on city streets, sidewalks, or easements.

·       It mandates using approved species compatible with local conditions to promote health and reduce conflicts. It requires that trees removed due to disease, damage, or development be replaced to maintain canopy cover.

·       Grants the Urban Forestry Program authority to inspect and enforce maintenance standards for pruning, clearance, and root management.

·       Promotes collaboration between residents, developers, and city arborists to preserve mature trees during construction projects..

Results of the Policy:

 VMC 12.04 aligns with RCW 76.15 by making community partnerships official for the care of street trees and ensuring that keeping trees in the city supports the city's climate goals, urban cooling strategies, and public health goals.

VMC 20.770 — Protecting Critical Areas and Preserving Vegetation

 Purpose and Scope: VMC 20.770 adds Best Available Science to the city's land-use and environmental review.  It controls how development affects key areas, including wetlands, steep slopes, streams, and riparian corridors. It also sets standards for plants to prevent erosion, flooding, and water pollution.

 Key Provisions:

•          Vegetation management plans, developed by qualified professionals, are required for development or clearing within critical-area buffers.

•          Preserves existing trees, native vegetation, and soil structure within specified buffers, recognizing their role in slope stability, groundwater recharge, and wildlife habitat.

•          Sets replanting and mitigation requirements to preserve ecological function and canopy continuity when vegetation removal is unavoidable.

•          Directly cites state policies under RCW 36.70A.172 and RCW 90.58, ensuring local permitting aligns with the latest scientific data and maintains the no net loss standard for ecological function.

•          Requires the use of native and climate-resilient species for replanting to ensure long-term survival and biodiversity..

Policy Outcomes:

This ordinance turns science into enforceable policy.  By treating trees as natural stormwater infrastructure, VMC 20.770 links urban development to watershed health.  It ensures that slope stabilization, flood control, and habitat protection are achieved through living systems rather than solely through complex engineering.

VMC 20.770.060 — Soil Conservation and Low Impact Development (LID)

Purpose and Scope:

This section of the Critical Areas Code incorporates Low Impact Development (LID) principles that recognize healthy soil and vegetation as essential tools for stormwater control.

Key Provisions:

•           Maintaining native topsoil and infiltration capacity during site development is essential to support vegetation growth after construction.

•          Encourages using tree retention, vegetated buffers, and permeable surfaces to reduce runoff and enhance groundwater recharge.

•           Provides incentives to developers for including green infrastructure like rain gardens, bioswales, or street trees in their project designs.

•           Sets soil stabilization requirements for steep slopes based on measurable standards like tree root density and canopy coverage.Policy Outcomes:

VMC 20.770.060 translates Best Management Practices (BMPs) into enforceable design standards.  It reflects the hydrological principle that trees and soils function as natural filters—slowing runoff, absorbing pollutants, and preventing costly flood damage.

VMC 20.770.120 — Replanting and Long-Term Monitoring

Purpose and Scope:

This provision mandates the restoration and monitoring of vegetation following land disturbance in critical areas or buffers.

 Key Provisions:

•           Requires developers or landowners to replace removed trees at a ratio that reflects their ecological value, canopy size, and site conditions.

•          Establishes a five-year monitoring requirement to ensure new plantings meet survival and canopy goals.

•          Allows the city to require financial guarantees (performance bonds) for large-scale mitigation projects to ensure compliance and ongoing maintenance.

•          Encourages the use of native, drought-tolerant, and pollution-resistant tree species suitable for the Columbia River Valley’s changing climate.

Policy Outcomes:

This monitoring requirement makes tree protection measurable and accountable.  It ensures that restoration efforts produce lasting canopy growth, aligning with both RCW 76.15 and RCW 90.48 (Water Pollution Control Act).

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Vancouver’s legal system integrates science-based environmental protections into its ordinances.

6. Forward Strategy and Vision

The City aims to achieve 28% canopy coverage by 2047, highlighting its dedication to stormwater management and the advantages of natural solutions. Programs such as The City aim to achieve 28% canopy coverage by 2047, highlighting its dedication to stormwater management. The advantages of natural solutions are that TreeCAP, Heritage Trees, Canopy Restoration, and Neighborhood Tree Stewards encourage community involvement and responsible tree stewardship. The future vitality of the community largely depends on how effectively we manage our urban tree canopy — our green infrastructure — today. Vancouver’s strategy, which combines scientific monitoring, community engagement, and policies aligned with state priorities, sets a benchmark for coastal and inland cities grappling with challenges such as population growth, pollution, and climate change.

Key Takeaway

Vancouver’s Urban Forestry Work Plan 2025–2026 demonstrates how trees function as the Pacific Northwest’s most cost-effective natural infrastructure, delivering:

•          Cleaner air and water

•          Stronger critical-area protection

•          Improved public health outcomes

•          Long-term economic growth and resilience

•          Compliance with state law and scientific standards

 Through its integration of urban forestry, RCWs, and public health data, Vancouver transforms its tree canopy into a living public utility—one that sustains ecosystems, protects waterways, and supports a healthier, more resilient community.