Benefits of Urban Greening
Harnessing the Power of Plants
Our approach is based on a rigorous analysis of scientific studies and studies commissioned by the city on natural areas of high value. The completion of major annual studies is an integral part of our actions and a valuable decision-making tool. The studies, carried out using scientific methodologies endorsed by governmental bodies, are accompanied by recommendations on the planting and reforestation required to restore the environment, combat invasive alien species, and protect the endangered plants found on our territory. An annual budget is set aside specifically for these purposes. The continued and annual collaboration with scientists and government bodies demonstrates the innovation of the city, as well as our engagement and durability in the protection of our natural resources.
Delivering Multiple Benefits
The planning and implementation of various vegetation landscapes optimise connectivity between the heterogeneous mosaic of green spaces present in the area. Approaches are modulated according to the type of land use. In urban environments, plants bring the added benefit of green infrastructure. They can be used to effectively solve environmental problems such as reducing heat-island effects, purifying air, water and soil, controlling erosion and run-off, and promoting public health overall.
The guidelines for our initiative are contained in the city’s various environmental plans, policies and regulations, which were all created with our overarching initiatives in mind. Not only is the initiative supported by our many policies, but the city also recognises its benefits by allocating an annually renewed budget to ensure the initiative is carried out.
The City’s Bold and Innovative Vision
Our initiative is bold, unique and innovative as we focus on actions promoting connectivity and resilience for healthy, diverse ecosystems. Our approaches are based on scientific research demonstrating the impact of fragmented natural environments on biodiversity and human health. Our techniques then consist of looking for ways to connect natural environments across the entire territory and plant vegetation that is proven to withstand the constraints of mineralised spaces. In addition, a selection of trees with the widest spread of limbs were and continue to be planted to reduce the effects of heat islands in more residential and densely populated areas.
We also use government maps to identify the areas in our territory where heat island effects are most pronounced. With this information, we can select the plants according to the specific environmental conditions within those sectors. This allows us to assess opportunities for connectivity within those residential areas. We use the same approaches when trying out combinations of plant species to create windbreaks and help reduce wind erosion, notably in the winter, and in our large-scale planting of native species to compete with invasive alien species.
Partnerships and Collaboration
Collaborative working is an essential component of our organisation’s problem-solving and decision-making processes. It leads to more innovation and opportunities for success.
Our initiative is supported by the expertise of horticulturists, environmental specialists, urban planners, legislators, and infrastructure and community life departments who work collaboratively for the city. Our initiative is also implemented by committees such as the Urban Forestry Committee and co-creation workshops. The city is equally supported in its approach by experts on committees such as our Environmental Advisory Committee, made up of citizen experts who have a solid background in sustainable engineering, urban design, plant ecology and conservation, and by partnerships with expert organisations such as Nature-Action Québec (NAQ).
Saint-Lazare works closely with many organisations in the surrounding region as well. By working with institutions, like McGill University and UQAM (University de Quebec à Montréal), Saint-Lazare is able to collect more data and scientific recommendations for the protection of the city’s environment. Elementary and high school students in our community also work closely with the city in our efforts to increase tree planting and gardening around institutions. The city also works alongside non-profit organisations in our community. The diversity and multitude of our recently transformed green spaces have allowed us to provide comestible plants and foods to lower income families. Through these non-profit partnerships, we also hold environmental workshop for new residents.
Addressing Urban Challenges
The Issue
From 2001 to 2011, the population of Saint-Lazare grew by almost 40%. During this time, urban development had increased exponentially to accommodate the new arrivals to the city. As a result, deforestation and fragmentation of natural green space became major issues for the city, leading to the adoption of our first environmental policy in 2011.
However, without the first steps taken and the continued efforts throughout the years and today, Saint-Lazare would not have the existing green space. With our policies in place, our population has continued to grow, with an increase of only 13% since 2011.
The Impact of the Issue
Without the existing initiative, a larger percentage of the city would have continued to be developed, leading to a high population, an increase in deforestation and fragmentation of natural spaces. Some of the direct consequences are loss of biodiversity, lack of protection against the impacts of climate change and thus accelerated effects in our region, lack of filtration of water and water retention, loss of habitat for native species and augmented heat island effects. Overall, this would leave the city more vulnerable to climate change and irreversible climate degradation.
A Nature Orientated Future
Deforestation and fragmentation of natural spaces not only put the citizens and natural environments of the city at risk in terms of air, water, and overall environmental quality, but it also has major consequences for the region as a whole. Currently, we are considered a lung of the region as we have many forested areas, both on protected and private property. We are also part of a large regional and metropolitan green corridor, which allows wildlife and natural environments to thrive. Without our continued efforts of reforesting and protecting our green spaces and forested areas, we would not hold this status nor be able to guarantee continued protection of the essential green corridor.
Nature Positive Solutions
Implementation
Our initiative was implemented through planning which considered the diversity of landscapes on the territory and its challenges (wooded, agricultural, commercial, residential), and prioritised the most problematic areas, often those identified as suffering most from the effects of climate change. Planting in public areas was executed along strategic axes for maximum benefits and visibility. Ecosystem restoration and plantations in wooded areas are expected to reduce invasive alien species.
In 2019, our focus was on plantations, often drought-resistant species, that reduced use of potable water. Protecting groundwater, the city’s only source of drinking water, is a major challenge given the proliferation of grass areas in residential sectors.
In 2020, more green spaces were added with increased biodiversity and were promoted for educational purposes. Areas were landscaped with plants selected to encourage pollinators. Edible and native plants and micro-forests were planted throughout the territory.
In 2021, our efforts earned us certification as a Monarch Friendly City. A real commitment by the town to pursue its actions and adopt new ones for the preservation of this species.
In parallel, the work carried out between 2021 and 2022 began with the adoption of a new set of bylaws. The changes allowed a wide range of mechanisms to be included in our bylaws to protect natural environments both inside and outside the urban perimeter.
As a result, we have achieved comprehensive environmental protection for our entire territory, in both public and private spaces.
Feasibility
To ensure long-term and short-term goals are met, human resources, a planning budget and specific actions have been enshrined in the city’s plans, policies and even regulations. For example, our Sustainable Development Plan (PDD) calls for increasing tree cover and biodiversity in urban areas. In the short term, we continue planting to compensate for tree felling, in order to maintain and increase our canopy index. A revegetation plan promoting the presence of native species was drawn up in 2022 and is still ongoing. Planting in more densely populated areas to reduce the effects of heat islands will allow us to reach our long term goals.
We have foreseen stricter regulations to protect trees (restrictions on felling, more protective measures for trees, obligation to densify) which in the long-term, will translate to a higher percentage of trees in urban areas than in forested areas.
An example of the success of our initiative is our green infrastructure due to a combination of specifically selected resistant plants and biodiversification within those areas. Although their quantitative aspect has not yet been measured, we have seen a multitude of qualitative benefits which include the visual appeal of the city as well as a reduction in heat island effects in and around those infrastructures. As a result, they have been implemented across the city in strategic areas, accompanied by educational signs.
What’s more, given the success of our financial assistance for citizens to encourage them to plant trees, the amount granted has been increased by 50%.
Multi-Stakeholder Support
Not only is there multidisciplinary collaboration within the city, but we also have partnerships with regional and governmental bodies such as the Vaudreuil-Soulanges Regional County Municipality (MRC-VS) and Montreal Metropolitan Community (CMM). The initiative is implemented at several decision-making and administrative levels, as well as in the community. The city works alongside elementary and high school youths in the community on a variety of projects which include seedling germination, tree plantation and educational workshops, which all encourage biodiversity. We also have full community support as is seen in the high attendance during our annual seedling and sapling distribution event.
Management and Maintenance
The success of our incentive is based on annual planning and regular cost evaluation, by assigning tasks and tracking targets notably the canopy index in our denser areas and the percentage of forest cover in our wooded areas.
One of the main challenges is the uncertainty pertaining to the performance of our newer green infrastructure as well as the phasing out of more traditional approaches. We overcome this through a trial-and-error approach.
Another challenge we have faced over the past two years is social acceptability, mainly linked to perceptions of the aesthetic appeal of green infrastructure such as rain gardens, infiltration basins and stormwater green streets. Questions from some citizens have led us to integrate annual flowers with native plants to achieve a faster flower meadow effect.
Measuring and Reporting Impact
Monitoring Results
Realistic action planning with precise deadlines, periodic monitoring, and evaluation of results to adjust our methods, protocols and timetable are all methods used to facilitate the monitoring process of our initiative. Vegetation losses due to disease or extreme climatic events (mainly drought and ice storms) encourage us to be flexible and adapt to the unexpected.
As evidence of progress, we use two main parameters: the canopy index in our denser areas and the percentage of forest cover in our wooded areas. Added to these are the percentages of unmowed areas, where grass has been replaced by a variety of native plants, including milkweed (asclepiad).
One evidence of progress is the increase in the canopy index resulting from the multiplication of the city’s green spaces. Milkweed communities that used to be mowed before flowering are now protected. These native communities were identified on the territory and their management changed simply by deciding to cease mowing altogether. There are a multitude of benefits as a result. Milkweed provides habitat for pollinators such as the endangered monarch butterfly, these plant communities act as green infrastructure and increase naturalised areas. We can now see concrete progress following our actions to protect these plant communities as milkweed populations have multiplied. As a result of our awareness campaigns, we are also seeing more and more of this plant on private properties.
Demonstrating Progress
Our Sustainable Development Plan includes measurable targets and annual reports demonstrate our progress, not only by the achievement of these targets, but also by qualitative advances such as the constant increase in the frequentation of green spaces. Another example is work being done to achieve the target of increasing the surface area of flower meadows, where we are seeing increased numbers of pollinating insects, notably the monarch butterfly.
The measurability of our progress has gotten us recognition from a regional body (MRC-VS in partnership with NAQ) for the extent and quality of our forest cover, which is considered a lung of the region. In 2021, we were approached with an offer of nesting boxes to be installed in one of our greatest natural assets, the Bordelais Bog Natural Park.
The quality of our green spaces has earned us the interest of McGill University in helping us find the best ways to meet the densification requirements set by the CMM, while minimising the impact on our forest cover.
As part of the Monarch Friendly City program, and following our success in implementing the initial measures, the town modified its strategy to implement the full range of measures for this initiative, notably by increasing the area of green spaces beneficial to monarchs and distributing milkweed seeds to the community. To this end, a special budget was approved by the City Council for the purchase of milkweed seeds. As a result, we achieved Gold status in June 2023.
Measuring Impact
Our initiative has allowed us to conserve the existing biodiversity and create more ecological and biodiverse green spaces. By doing this, the city also took the opportunity to present to the citizens different combinations of plants creating innovative and ecological green spaces in replacement of the very traditional uniform grass. Citizens now have a new perspective and a better understanding of the best techniques to combine native plants with their traditional flowerbeds, for instance.
By introducing native plants in urban green spaces, we have also created new habitats for wildlife and more specifically for birds and insects. This also helps curb the expansion of invasive alien species and reduces heat islands.
We measure the impact of our initiative firstly by the number of green spaces we’ve created or transformed so far and overall, by the increased surface area of vegetated spaces. We plan on transforming more green spaces each year and measuring the areas where mowing is no longer necessary, reducing considerably greenhouse gas emissions.
On a qualitative basis, citizens and visitors have positive comments. Citizens have also shown a great interest in our new contest consisting in the replacement of their grass with more ecological plants, inspired by the green space’s models.
Learning and Transferability
Adaption and Enhancement
The initiative started slowly by transforming smaller areas covered with grass into micro-forests, gardens, orchards, etc. Some plantations didn’t meet our expectations, citizens questioned the initiative, especially in new developments. We then adapted our project and chose different plant species, mixing annual and perennial plants to protect and help native species to root and grow. We also let species grow naturally without any human intervention as long as they are non-invasive nor toxic.
Communicating the initiative was essential. An explanation of why the changes were necessary to better protect the forest and add biodiversity to our urban green spaces was needed. We informed our citizens using different media such as newsletters, press releases, green files and brochures distributed from door to door. Conferences, workshops and environmental activities (Environment Day) were offered to citizens. Financial aid was and is still offered for tree planting. A green squad was formed to inform citizens and answer their questions in the field.
External stakeholders participated in our efforts to protect and add biodiversity to our environment. For instance, universities have given the city advice on specific areas to protect in priority. We are also noticing an increased number of wild plants on private properties. Many citizens are now reducing grass areas and mowing, understand better the importance of biodiversity and add native plants to their immediate environment.
Potential for Replication
Employees and citizens are more aware of the importance of protecting the forest and improving urban green areas, in particular on how to better adapt to climatic changes, inspired by the natural surrounding environment. It is becoming more acceptable to use wild species in urban flowerbeds, rain gardens, riverbanks or along paved roads. Employees have become more knowledgeable of the natural environment and are trying to reproduce it within the urban perimeter. Being part of the changes has made our employees more motivated to make them a success. Their autonomy is encouraged, and they are taking part in every step of the initiative from planning and conception to choosing species and areas of plantation. Workshops and training have become part of the initiative.
To protect the monarch butterfly in particular, the city now protects milkweed. This specific plant used to be considered an IAS and was removed from green spaces. Employees are now protecting the plant and highlight it when possible. The population is also asked to sow and protect naturally growing milkweed. Milkweed seeds were distributed to schools, day care centres and citizens. This also seems to have encouraged people to recreate more ecological habitats for birds and insects by letting wildflowers grow and planting more native species.
We are now noticing a lot more milkweed in public green spaces and private properties, which was a nice surprise. Also, since more wildflowers are added in urban green spaces, more habitats for pollinators, and monarch butterflies in particular, have been created.
Inspiring Other Cities
We are currently preparing educational and environmental documentation for our citizens and for neighbouring cities. Our regulations are very innovative as other cities use them as inspiration for their own practices. In our efforts to protect our natural areas, we motivate surrounding cities to do the same and conserve our green corridor. We aim to be an example for municipalities in the surrounding area in our development strategy as well as our protection of natural resources.
Resilience
Reducing Negative Impacts and Ensuring Sustainability
Despite the selection of resilient and native plants, during winter snow removal operations we noted that the green infrastructure was less visible and damaged as a result. We have improved our communications with our partners for these operations to increase awareness in areas where grey infrastructure has been replaced by green infrastructure, and we have reviewed our operational map to better consider our future green infrastructure. This allows for a reduction in damage, leading to fewer plant replacements needed and a lower carbon footprint.
We have also put in place separate methods for reducing and ceasing to mow green spaces around the territory. First, the city has committed to cease mowing during the spring, which is a key period for biodiversity and as of 2023, we are officially part of the ‘No Mow May’ programme. Secondly, we have also completed a cease in mowing operation by replacing grass areas with native flower meadows and micro-forests. Finally, we have recognised the value of rewilded spaces, often fields, as transitional areas necessary for biodiversity. As a result, they are allowed to grow taller than in residential areas and can be maintained on a less frequent schedule. IAS may be prone to grow in these areas, so we have planned mechanic maintenance for targeted species on a regular basis. These practices have allowed a large reduction in the greenhouse gas emissions of the city and these spaces also act as carbon sinks.
Environmental Considerations
To reduce the risk of disease due to low diversity and the risk of damage by exposure to vehicular traffic and pollution, we started our initiative by increasing our biodiversity with resilient species. We also considered the characteristics of our loamy, sandy soil, which is less suitable for many species. For all these reasons, we have integrated shrub-type plants that are more tolerant and can thrive in this type of soil. Examples include the Rugosa rose and its hybrids, sea-buckthorn, juniper, Canada yew, lilac, spiraea and staghorn sumac, a native species.
We used and continue to use a combination of plants capable of creating a support network and anticipate self-sufficient ecosystems, reducing the need for both maintenance and water. We also reduced watering by using more mulch, which is excellent for keeping the soil moist, and have ensured the use of mulch has low emissions by favouring recycling from our tree maintenance operations in public spaces. When necessary, watering circuits are set up strategically to reduce travel distances. We only use non-potable recycled water from our basins. And this is clearly marked on the tanker truck.
Finally, because of climate change, we are experiencing more frequent ice storms, which can weaken the plantations. In anticipation of this, we began in 2022 to protect certain plantations with plastic-coated geotextiles during the winter.
Use of Natural Resources
In the past, green residues were often removed and discarded. The city now uses them by grasscycling to enrich our soil which provides the double benefit of allowing us to forgo fertilisers and reduce machinery needed. Within our green spaces, seed recovery is prioritised to densify desired plants in our landscapes.
The residues of pruning and cutting of public trees are repurposed to make wooden fences and public benches, and mulch for public parks and walkways. The city also offers branch collections during the year to repurpose the material into mulch. It is then redistributed to residents, as it increases humidity levels, reduces the need for watering, offers protection to plants during the winter months and habitats for micro-mammals and insects.
The collection of organic matter is done on a municipal level and the compost is used for municipal plantations and distributed to residents. We also encourage the collection of rainwater and at-home composting with our subsidies program.
For municipal watering, we use basins (which we built to help reduce flooding in at risk areas) and rainwater collection systems with non-potable water so as to not waste potable water. Saint-Lazare also relies solely on groundwater, so the water used in green areas returns to the system.
