Metro Vancouver

Climate Adaptation Tree Selection Guidelines

Diamond Head produced a climate adaptation framework which provided guidelines for reducing stress in the urban forest through soil management, planting infrastructure, water management and tree management practices. As a subsequent planning initiative DHC researched and developed a tree selection tool that helps narrow down selection of species to ones that will be well adapted to future climate, the intended planting site and site design criteria.

Climate suitability of urban trees is broadly controlled by species tolerances for temperature and precipitation. Using this decision framework, the study reviewed 144 species that grow locally. For all species reviewed, drought tolerance was the determining factor for future climate suitability in this region. To provide greater context for each of the 144 species assessed, we developed a species selection database that includes relevant tree attributes and site suitability recommendations in addition to future climate suitability. The database is a standalone tool to assist practitioners in selecting the right tree for the right place. Users can obtain a species list based on the type of urban site (e.g., streets, highways, playgrounds etc.), or from other categories such as size, soil volume, tolerances or risks.