Good Morning, Mayor Haynes,

I am writing to you and the Saanich Councillors to express our dismay that the six Garry Oak Trees were cut down on Finnerty Road, on Tuesday 19th February, 2019.

As I am sure you are aware, those trees were priceless, however, an arborist has calculated the monetary value of just one healthy Garry Oak tree of 650 mm diameter as being fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).

The Finnerty Road Garry Oaks measured as follows:

3874 Finnerty: 3 Garry Oak Trees: 650 mm diameter, 500 mm diameter and 600 mm diameter
3878 Finnerty: 2 Garry Oak Trees: 600 mm diameter and 250 mm diameter
Wildlife Garry Oak Tree: 650 mm diameter

As you are also no doubt aware, our well established trees, such as were chopped down on Finnerty Road, are our best allies to counter global warming and climate change. There is a climate change emergency. How old were those trees? Perhaps fifty years or more. Planting even six sapling trees to replace any one of them will take another thirty years before they can even begin to benefit the environment to the same extent those trees were providing us with.

What will it take to stop Saanich cutting down healthy trees on public land, in the name of road upgrades, particularly when alternatives can be found?

As you know, large trees absorb carbon monoxide and release oxygen, as well as helping to prevent flooding, by absorbing water through their root system. This is say nothing of the beauty of the aesthetics they provide.

Please see the Saanich News article regarding Saanich’s “protected” healthy Garry Oaks on Finnerty Road.

We, who care about trees, hope that you, council and staff will find a better way in future.

Sincerely,

Harriet Graham