Growing a greener Christchurch: An interview with Toby Chapman, Urban Forest Manager

By James Beck

I had the privilege of having a conversation with Toby Chapman - Urban Forest Manager at Christchurch City Council - to explore Christchurch’s Urban Forest Plan and how the Church and the wider community can help create a greener future.

Chapman at Cutler Park in Woolston, Christchurch, where the council has planted a variety of high canopy trees that will eventually create shady areas. (Source: Peter Meecham / The Press)

The Urban Forest Plan: Goals and Benefits

The primary goal of Christchurch's Urban Forest Plan is to increase canopy cover across the city. Toby was a key contributor to the Urban Forest Plan, he said: "Trees provide a wide range of benefits - reduction of heat, improvement of air quality, water quality, providing habitats, mitigating climate change and its good for people to be around trees." The plan's four key goals—plant, nurture, protect, and involve—aim to ensure a resilient, healthy, and functional urban forest.

Addressing Social Inequality Through Canopy Cover

The urban forest plan also addresses social inequality. Toby explains, "There's definitely a correlation between areas with low canopy and wealthier areas with high canopy." The plan seeks to address this by increasing canopy cover in low socio-economic areas. It is now recognized that lack of canopy cover is a social injustice issue.

Community Involvement: A Key to Success

For the Urban Forest Plan to succeed, community involvement is crucial. Toby notes, "Most of the land in Christchurch is actually in private ownership...The biggest challenge to increasing our canopy cover across the city is not tree availability, not getting people to plant the trees...it's actually finding space for trees." He encourages individuals and communities, including churches, to plant trees on their properties and see them as critical infrastructure.

Churches and Trees

The values and aspirations of the Eco Church movement naturally sit with the aspirations of the Urban Forest Plan. As more churches embrace environmental stewardship as a core aspect of their mission, there will be a growing call for actions centred around the care for creation and social justice. Churches are encouraged to contribute to a thriving urban forest by planting trees on their properties and engaging their congregations in environmental initiatives. The Urban Forest Plan is specific to Ōtautahi Christchurch, but its aspirations could be outworked by churches anywhere. 

Christchurch's Urban Forest Plan is a Council-led and community-driven effort to create a greener, more equitable city. By planting, nurturing, protecting, and involving the community, Christchurch is well on its way to becoming a greener city - ensuring all of the benefits of trees are available for us and for generations to come.

If you want to find out more or find out how to get involved, visit https://ccc.govt.nz/parks-and-gardens/volunteer-in-parks/volunteer-events/