From forest trails to city streets: How standardization supports urban sustainability
By Gillian Koh, Manager, Policy and Programs, Climate Change and Sustainability, Standards Council of Canada
Last year, I moved into a new role at the Standards Council of Canada as Manager, Policy and Programs, Climate Change and Sustainability. It was a big shift—less time on the road conducting accreditation assessments and more time shaping national strategies that support sustainability and resilient infrastructure.
I am leading the climate change and sustainability team, which runs the Standards to Support Resilience in Infrastructure Program. Our work provides standards solutions that strengthen communities against climate risks, including those for Northern communities.
But I haven’t left fieldwork behind entirely. A few times a year, I still join audits and assessments that connect directly to my passion. So when the chance came to take part in a witness audit in the Regional Municipality of York, I didn’t hesitate.
Why? Because I love sustainable urban forestry.
Why urban forests matter (to me)
I LOVE urban forests. I grew up in London, Ontario—Canada’s Forest City (though sadly, there are far fewer trees now than when it earned that nickname). Some of my best memories come from the Carolinian forests, especially the Medway Valley Heritage Forest. It was a short bike ride or a long walk from my house, and I didn’t realize at the time how rare that kind of access to nature is.
That early connection to the forest shaped who I am. It led me into a career in the environmental sector, and it continues to inspire the work I do today. For years, I’ve also volunteered to advocate for more tree canopy in my city, especially in neighbourhoods where green space is limited.
Urban forests aren’t just beautiful. They offer real, measurable benefits: cleaner air, cooler streets during heat waves, mental health support and flood prevention. And importantly, they intersect with equity. Access to trees and green space is often harder for communities that already face barriers.
That’s why the Sustainable Forestry Initiative’s (SFI) new standard on urban and community forests is so exciting. These give organizations flexible ways to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable forestry in urban settings. They can go for full certification—which includes more than 100 indicators—or focus on one of 4 core themes: community well-being and human health, environmental and conservation leadership, climate and disaster resilience, and urban forest improvement.
In 2024, our customer Preferred by Nature brought us their first scheduled audit under this new standard. Seeing this work in action was a powerful reminder of why I do what I do.
The (not-so-boring) certification backstory
When a certifier (or certification body) starts auditing under a new standard, they can't just jump in. As part of the accreditation process, they have to be observed in action through something called a "witness audit." This means an assessor like me watches them carry out their first audit to make sure they're applying the requirements properly and consistently.
It's a key part of what sets third-party certification apart. It shows that the certifier has been evaluated and accredited by an independent body—like the Standards Council of Canada—which helps ensure credibility and trust in the entire system.
What I saw in York was next-level
York Region was a delight to visit. They’re certified to the full SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard—and they’re doing incredible work. Their forestry team is large, passionate and mission-driven. They’ve already implemented a range of initiatives that go beyond what I imagined possible in a municipal setting.
A few moments stood out:
- We toured sites using an electric bus.
- Staff casually referred to “rewilding” efforts along city streets. This term was used to describe de-paving the centre of roads and removing built medians to plant trees.
- There are plans to plant pawpaw trees in a new afforestation zone. (Yes, that pawpaw—with the tropical-tasting fruit that’s native to Southwestern Ontario. Look it up!)
York is setting an example for what sustainable urban forestry can look like across North America. I left inspired and hopeful, and even more motivated in my work.
Helpful resources
- Interested in getting certified to SFI’s Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard? You can find SCC-accredited certification bodies on our website.
- If you're a certification body looking to get accredited or want to become a forestry assessor for the Standards Council of Canada, I’d love to hear from you! Contact me at gillian.koh@scc-ccn.ca.
About Preferred by Nature
Preferred by Nature is an international nonprofit organization working to support better land management and business practices that benefit people, nature and climate. The organization operates in over 100 countries, with a focus on land use sectors such as forestry, agriculture and climate impact commodities. Preferred by Nature promotes sustainability through projects, certification services, capacity building and tailored support to drive positive change in production landscapes and supply chains. The organization is accredited to deliver SFI certification services through the Standards Council of Canada.
About the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) advances sustainability through forest-focused collaboration. They are an independent, nonprofit organization that leverages 4 interconnected pillars of work: standards, conservation, community and education. SFI works with the forest sector, conservation groups, academics, researchers, brand owners, resource professionals, landowners, educators, local communities, Indigenous Peoples and governments. Collaborating with their network, they leverage SFI-certified forests and products as powerful tools to help solve sustainability challenges such as climate action, conservation of biodiversity, education of future generations and sustainable economic development.
About the Regional Municipality of York
The Regional Municipality of York consists of 9 local cities and towns, and provides a variety of programs and services to over 1.25 million residents and 57,000 businesses with more than 629,000 employees. More information about the Region’s key service areas is available at on their website.