WINNIPEG, MB - The City of Winnipeg, recognized as a leader in Dutch Elm Disease (DED) management in North America for over 37 years, is proposing an enhanced strategy to protect our urban forest from DED by doubling the annual budget allocated to slow the loss of American elms.
Winnipeg is believed to have the largest urban American elm population in any city in North America. The full enhanced strategy calls for the City of Winnipeg and the Province of Manitoba to share approximately $3.7 million in new spending for each of the next five years to battle DED. Implementation of the full enhanced strategy is conditional on matching funding from the Province of Manitoba.
"Winnipeg"s elm canopy is absolutely worth protecting," said Mayor Sam Katz. "This proposal calls upon the City of Winnipeg and the Province of Manitoba to work together to significantly reduce the incidence of DED and confirm the value Winnipeggers place on our urban forest."
"We have been a leader in DED management in North America," said Deputy Mayor Russ Wyatt and Chair of the Mayor's Environmental Advisory Committee. "In 2011, the rate of elm losses to DED reached an all-time high. It's clear we need to take action to preserve our place as a beautiful city of elms."
The report proposes a strategy that includes buffer zone management, an updated elm tree inventory on private property within the City of Winnipeg, increased surveillance and rapid removal of diseased trees, elm bark beetle control, as well as boosting the number of replacement trees planted when trees are lost.
"I want to thank the members of Trees Winnipeg and the Trees Action Group for their dedication and commitment to preserving Winnipeg's urban forest, and especially the American elm," said Councillor Dan Vandal, Chair of Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works. "The Trees Action Group brought its concerns to our committee last December and this report clearly shows that their advice has been heard."
The University of Manitoba, University of Winnipeg, Trees Winnipeg (Coalition to Save the Elms), Trees Action Group, Manitoba Conservation, and representatives of the private arboricultural industry were consulted regarding the new strategy.
In 2012, the provincial contribution to DED totaled $1 million, while the City of Winnipeg contributed $2.7 million. If the Province agrees to match City funding, the new funding level will be $7.4 million annually to protect our urban elm forest.
The report, which will be considered by the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works on Monday, November 26, 2012, is available here.