Woodlots
 Woodlots serve a vital ecological, social and economic role for surrounding communities and the City as a whole. The City of Brampton recognizes them as a valuable asset to be protected and cherished.
The City of Brampton Woodlot Conservation By-law was adopted by Brampton City Council with the expressed purpose of protecting and conserving woodlands within the City of Brampton.
As a result of the Woodlot Conservation By-law, a permit is required for any person wishing to make alterations (removal in whole or in part) to a woodlot and who are outside a formal development approvals’ process (rezoning, plan of subdivision, site plan, etc.).
Persons wishing to make alterations to a woodlot are required to submit an application for a Permit to Injure or Destroy Trees within a Woodlot to the Planning Design and Development Department.
As part of that application process, the applicant will be required to demonstrate that his/her actions are consistent with “good forestry practices” as defined by the City of Brampton and the Ministry of Natural Resources through the development of a Silvicultural Prescription Report that must be prepared by a Professional Forester and Tree Marker.
Good Forestry Practices
The intent of the Woodlot Conservation By-law is to ensure landowners with woodlots follow the principles of “good forestry” when making changes to their woodlots.
“Good forestry practices” means the proper implementation of harvest, renewal and maintenance activities known to be appropriate for the forest and environmental conditions under which they are being applied and that minimize detriments to forest values, including significant ecosystems, important fish and wildlife habitat, soil and water quality and quantity, forest productivity and health and the aesthetics and recreational opportunities of the landscape.
To ensure “good forestry practices” are being implemented during the removal of trees within a woodlot, the City requires applicants to submit a Silvicultural Prescription.
A Silvicultural Prescription is a site specific operational plan that describes the existing forest conditions and the forest management objectives for an area, and which prescribes the methods for harvesting the existing forest stand and a series of Silvicultural treatments that will be carried out to establish a free growing stand in a manner that accommodates other resource values as identified above. A Silvicultural prescription describes the long-term woodlot management objectives to ensure that the ecological integrity of the woodlot is maintained and enjoyed by future Brampton residents.
For the City to grant a permit to injury or destroy trees within a woodlot, the application must demonstrate the his/her actions are consistent with the principles of “good forestry”.
For more information on the Woodlot Conservation By-law, please contact the Planning, Design and Development Department, Community Design, Parks Planning and Development Division.
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