An Interview with Catherine McKenney

This past winter The PEN spoke with Catherine McKenney, co-founder and Executive Director of CitySHAPES, about some of the challenges of building urban canopies and greenspaces in cities and communities. You can read the conversation below [editors note: this interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity].

The PEN: Hi Catherine, thank you for speaking with me today. To begin with our first question: what are some of the issues regarding urban canopies and green spaces that you see communities dealing with?

CM: Well, first off, we see that urban communities everywhere really are struggling with how to retain their urban canopy and grow it--especially in areas closer to the core of any city. You know, the less tree canopy you have, the harder it is to retain those trees, especially street trees subjected to such harsh conditions. But also, overall there is a loss of both public and private trees and a lack of adequate green space—especially in denser, urban neighborhoods. I think it's getting better, but the awareness of the community of the importance of trees really needs to push decision makers to do much better in terms of retaining a tree their tree canopy and growing it.

The PEN: Can you elaborate a bit on why it's so hard to retain trees, especially street trees?

CM: There are such harsh conditions they are subjected to, like the salt from the roadway, or often cities don't invest in good infrastructure like tree guards to ensure that there's adequate soil and watering for trees. So the trees die; you see it in downtowns all over the place where trees along streets have a very difficult time. And yet they’re some of the most important trees that we have in cities because the ones lining roadways and sidewalks can help to calm traffic and help to keep you cool while you're walking. So they contribute to a walkable, safer neighborhood, and yet they're the most difficult to keep alive.

The PEN: You recently launched CitySHAPES, a national non-profit to build better cities. Do urban canopies and green spaces fit into CitySHAPES’ mission, if at all?

CM: Well, our work is meant to make cities better and it's focused on climate action, housing and homelessness, transit and active transportation, and you can't have a sustainable healthy green or prosperous city without healthy tree canopy that covers at least 40% across all neighborhoods. People are more likely to walk or cycle if there are trees or natural areas nearby, and we also know that heat islands in cities are marked by inequities because lower income neighborhoods generally have less trees and green space. So, this is all key when considering how we ensure that there's affordable housing in any city, or when we're considering the available green space and the natural areas that help people's mental health and provide cleaner air. So it's very much aligned with our mission make cities better.

The PEN: And is CitySHAPES currently involved in or considering any projects or work related to urban canopy issues?

CM: Not specifically at this time, I think we’re only about four weeks old! [editor’s note: the interview took place in late February.] However, our work on climate action will always involve urban canopy issues. And, again, trees cool neighborhoods, they clean the air, they protect against UV rays, they help to improve mental health—overall, they just contribute to healthier, more active lifestyles. So there's little doubt that the work that we embark on will certainly involve green space tree canopy. Again, natural areas are the things that makes cities better.

The PEN: Generally speaking, building and protecting urban canopies and green spaces requires collaboration between communities, governments, and members of the non-profit and private sectors. What are some of those challenges that these collaborations can face and what are some strategies they can use to overcome them?

CM: Much of our tree loss is due to changes in land use, whether that's new subdivisions, infill (like we see in certain neighborhoods where trees on lots are taken down—even large, beautiful, mature trees—to provide for infill), or when building bike lanes means that we need to remove trees to accommodate for that enhanced space. So, we need to recognize the reduction in costs for things like healthcare or infrastructure maintenance, so that when we talk about about trees that we want to work with, our other stakeholders—whether it's other levels of government, non-profits, or developers—we need commitment from everyone to protect and grow the urban forests. And really, cities need to look for alternative designs in site plans, in class of subdivision, etc., in order to meet objectives for building needed housing or other infrastructure, like bike lanes, while retaining and enhancing as much of the tree canopy as possible. You know, it's one thing to plant a lot of new trees, but they take decades, even generations to grow into a mature tree. And it really is critical that that we retain our mature trees in our urban areas, but we won't do that until everyone comes together and recognizes that there are overall benefits—economic benefits, financial benefits, health benefits—to find those solutions.

The PEN: Okay, and what are some strategies for bringing people together for this kind of work?

CM: Well, I often think that when we are able to engage the community, when we're able to make people more aware of the benefits of trees, and they start to ask for that and they start to demand for the retention of urban trees and the planting of better street trees, etc., that's what moves government. And once government has moved, once city governments are moved to bring in other stakeholders like the development industry with their future customers, and when future homebuyers are asking for better tree coverage and new subdivisions, that's when the change is going to happen. Having that community engagement and enhancing that community knowledge of trees is really key. You know, the demands of the public will move political will—we will get the outcomes that that we want but people have to ask for it.

The PEN: To follow up with a question kind of in the same vein, we know that initiatives to expand urban forests and green spaces often cross urban and rural boundaries. What should non-profits and other stakeholders in each of these regions understand about each other to work together effectively?

CM: Well, that's an excellent question. And oftentimes, when we think about rural areas, we think there are plenty of trees compared to, say, a dense urban area. But they can't be compared; they're very different. And we saw in parts of Ontario and in cities—in Ottawa, certainly—that what happened in May with the with the derecho storm and the devastation on rural communities was an eye opener for a lot of people that we have to deal with climate adaptation, that we have to ensure that that we have trees in our rural area that can withstand stronger storms because they're becoming more and more frequent and more devastating. So, we really need to understand the needs of both urban and rural communities, and to understand that while a rural property may have many more trees than an urban property, the needs are different and the outcomes of storms can be quite devastating on rural communities.

The PEN: Can you elaborate on how the needs are different, or are those needs just too variable from place to place?

CM: Well, in rural areas, certainly you have a greater urban canopy just by the nature of the land use. We don't have as much asphalt, etc., you don't have the street trees that are at risk. But there are also farming communities and large property owners, and having trees to ensure that the air is cool, to  help to protect against wind storms, snow storms, etc., is key to rural areas.

The PEN: Thanks—and a final question for this interview, do you have any other closing thoughts about the role of urban canopies and green spaces for cities and communities?

CM: Yeah, I'll say that a year ago I was in Montreal in the summer, and I noticed a number of large trees—on both private and public property, but not on all trees, of course—had signs posted on them that told the type of species of tree, the age of the tree, and it also gave the financial cost of the tree to show what that tree is worth in dollars. And it was really an eye opener. You know, we always recognize that they do have a dollar value, but to see it on a tree and to understand what that means, to see the amount of air that it cleans and the amount degrees that it cools are yard or a sidewalk, and what it would cost to replace that tree. I think it's something that municipalities everywhere should do because that, in itself, increases community awareness of the value of trees like nothing else. I can't imagine having that tree on your front lawn with that dollar sign on it and not wanting to protect it at all costs.

Catherine McKenney is the co-founder and Executive Director of CitySHAPES, a non-profit organization helping cities spark and implement the change they need to become healthier, greener, and more vibrant cities where everyone can thrive.