Stanley Park at Risk

The Vancouver Parks Board is cutting 25% of the trees in Stanley Park

Not only is most of BC being logged but now Vancouver’s jewel, one quarter of Stanley Park is being logged, ostensibly to curb the hemlock looper moth and remove dead trees that could pose a safety and wildfire risk. But we see evidence of live hemlock being cut down too.

Given that the hemlock looper moth may jump to firs and other species why is the Vancouver Park Board cutting down hemlocks that are still alive? With no hemlocks left what’s to stop the moth from going after fir and cedar? We do know that the Park Board was being quite secretive and refused to share their report until recently.

Why are healthy trees being cut down? Please see extensive examples of healthy stumps of larger trees cut down here.

This report should have been discussed on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at a Standing Committee on Policy and Strategic Priorities meeting with the Park Board asking for $4.9 million dollars to continue removing dead and apparently living trees. Instead they simply passed it with no discussion.

2024 Budget Adjustment Related to Risk Mitigation of the Hemlock Looper Moth in Stanley Park

Stanley Park Hemlock Looper Impact and Wildfire Risk Assessment – Report

Stanley Park Inquiry and Opinion

“Hindsight is 20:20, as the saying goes, but had the Parks people acted on recommendations by FLNRO to control the pest with Btk, made known to them in 2021, we would likely still have most of our famous mature conifer forest in Stanley Park.”

Stanley Park inquiry and opinion by a registered professional forester.