Accommodation and Real Estate Services

Major Property Updates - Riverview Lands

Riverview's Tree Collection

Riverview features large open grown trees.

Key to protecting and enhancing this feature is a vision and planting plan to sustain the collection and preserve its value as it ages and evolves. ARES formed a working group in 2005 that included representation from special interest groups and experts. They worked for nine months to explore issues, develop principles and create a draft vision statement.

The goal of the tree collection vision is two-fold:

1. To protect and enhance the status and value of the collection in perpetuity.
2. To inform any future land planning or change in use processes.

This is a significant piece of work that addressed complex issues and considered the collection looking forward 50-plus years. ARES sought input in 2007/08 from the City of Coquitlam, special interest groups and the public to confirm the vision and principles. They will now guide the development of the overarching Tree Collection Management and Tree Planting Plans.

Read the summary and background report to learn more about the process and the development of the vision statement and principles.

See the tree collection brochure to learn more about the trees and the vision.

Tree Collection Inventory and Number Tags
In 1995, the site's unique and specimen trees were surveyed, ranked, catalogued and tagged. Over time, some trees have been moved or removed, tree classifications have changed, tags have gone missing, and new trees have been planted to replace removed trees or to enhance an area or new building site.

In 2006, the Tree Collection inventory was updated and new tree tags were attached to approximately 2,000 trees. The tree inventory classifies trees by age, heritage rank, condition, uniqueness and other criteria.

Educational Tree Tags
Educational tags have been posted on 300 trees from Riverview's Tree Collection, displaying the trees' Latin and common names, continent of origin and corresponding tree inventory tag number. Work has begun to identify tag information for an additional 200 trees.

Tree Collection Management and Planting Plans
A management plan is being developed (expected to be completed in late 2008) to support the Tree Collection Vision and to ensure continued active management of the collection. This plan will consider management needs in five-year increments within a 50-plus year horizon, and will include succession planning, risk management and best practices. The Tree Planting Plan will identify species that would maintain or enhance the collection, primarily as part of succession planning.