A ten year plan is being presented to the City of Saskatoon’s Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services Committee this morning (Mon) to advance the city’s green network, meaning its parks, natural areas, the urban forest and other spaces.  Director of Sustainability, Jeanna South, says the network is under increasing pressure to provide high quality green space, while also supporting urban cooling, habitat, storm water management and other services.

She notes that emerging threats such as climate change and biodiversity loss are also compounding the pressure on green spaces to provide these services. South explains that creating an integrated green network helps to mitigate threats while also benefiting residents. For example, a street tree filters pollutants and storm water, provides shade and habitat, and stores carbon, while also beautifying the landscape.  The same goes for a wetland, which manages storm water, provides habitat and recreation opportunities.

South says natural areas, such as wetlands, grasslands encompass about 14 per city of Saskatoon’s footprint.