Editor:
I thought the environmental impact of tree removal due to single homes being demolished only to be replaced with bigger single homes and the lack of protection that "protected trees" actually have in Burnaby might be of interest (to readers).
There is another large, 100-foot cedar tree scheduled for removal at 5850 Buckingham Ave. due to “infrastructure conflicts.”
This tree has stood longer than the house they demolished to build the new monster home they are building on the cleared lot.
I say another because not long before this, many beautiful trees were lost when a heritage home was moved off-site and the forest that surrounded it was cleared for development.
There was no consideration given to preserving any of the large evergreens and because of their removal, the trees in the "tree protection" area, next to the creek that feeds Deer Lake, have toppled over and the soil is ripe for erosion.
These are only some of the trees I know about in my neighbourhood, but it is happening all over Burnaby - it is happening everywhere.
Huge homes are filling lots with no room for trees. Homeowners have trees cut down with the smallest of penalties if they are caught.
These trees have stood for much longer than we have been alive and now because they don't fit with the plan of what someone wants they are removed. Lost forever and not replaceable.
When will we start to care about the trees? When will "protected trees" actually be protected and cared for?
We need to start viewing our trees as valuable and not just something to cut down when it doesn't fit with what we want. It should be that we adjust the design, not simply find a way to cut down the tree.
With everything going on in our community, my voice feels really tiny and my issue small, but it isn't. To some, it may just be one tree, but it is one more tree in forests of trees that are being lost needlessly. We should be working to add trees, not remove them.
Alicia Schuurmans, Burnaby
