What is your interest and motivation in serving for LEAF as a board member?
I love LEAF’s purpose and vision, especially for the residential tree planting program. I think there is so much value for both individuals and the community more broadly, in helping residents select, properly plant and care for trees. I am convinced that LEAF’s approach to tree planting and commitment to education and training as advocates for the urban forest are essential in growing the urban canopy cover in cities. As a new member of LEAF’s Board, I am hopeful that I can help to contribute to the best practices used by LEAF by sharing research findings and new knowledge from the nursery and landscape sectors.
What experience do you bring?
I am an Environmental Horticulture research scientist and Program Leader at the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. Work in my program focuses on the urban tree value-chain. My research focuses on applied research solutions to improve tree planting success in urban forestry and getting those solutions into the hands of practitioners by developing new tools, techniques and practices. As an example, in 2019 my team and I wrote and released the Ontario Landscape Tree Planting Guide –which brings an evidence-based best practice approach to tree planting. My recent research has focused on both nursery production practices, like root management, which contributes to tree longevity in the landscape. My group also has been developing improvements in urban soil specifications to support tree planting by evaluating key soil properties that foster tree establishment and then helping cities to include this in their specs. I am also an adjunct professor at the University of Waterloo and Brock University in the Environmental Sustainability Research Centre which allows me to collaborate with a fantastic group of sustainability and resilience researchers bringing a social-ecological perspective to my work.
I believe that prospective planning for urban forest resilience is a major challenge we are facing, whether we know it or not yet. In order for cities to grow their urban forest canopy, the right trees in the right quantities need to be available for cities to access now and they need planting environments with the right conditions to support them. I see greater demand than ever for tree planting, but everyone in the supply-chain needs to be on the same page. It is essential for cities and their communities to deliver on ambitious planting commitments that underpin canopy cover targets. I think that new integrated planning approaches are needed, approaches that combine tree planting efforts into multi-functional designs, i.e. stormwater management. But, as a researcher, I also see there are some questions we need answered before we can do this properly!
Are you involved in any other community work?
Currently, I am involved in the Eastern Region of North America’s International Plant Propagator Society’s conference committee. Of course, whenever possible, I love to bring my family to participate in tree planting events! I have organized and taught training sessions on soil and tree planting at community planting events with the Highway of Heroes Living Tribute.
Darby McGrath is an Urban Forest Champion - someone who has made a positive impact on our urban forest through their professional, volunteer or personal efforts.
Read more our Urban Forest Champion blog series here.
Janet McKay is the Executive Director at LEAF.
LEAF offers a subsidized Backyard Tree Planting Program for private property. The program is supported by The City of Toronto, The Regional Municipality of York, The City of Markham, The Town of Newmarket, The Town of Ajax and Ontario Power Generation. For details on how you can participate, visit http://yourleaf.org.