This should not be a battle between supportive housing and the urban forest canopy. Everyone should have access to the mental and physical health benefits provided by mature trees. Every neighbourhood should gain from the carbon sequestration and enhanced biodiversity that results from a healthy tree canopy.

We know all of this, which is why our Urban Forest Master Plan emphasizes the importance of protecting and increasing the tree canopy across the City. This is why the Tree Protection Bylaw was updated to provide more protection for the remnant ecosystems of our Garry oaks.

Yet on Discovery Street, BC Housing is proposing to cut down four protected Garry oaks, three of which are well over 100 years old: huge healthy heritage trees, which have withstood the challenges of decades of abuse. To add insult, this short-sighted, disrespectful proposal is slated for the Burnside-Gorge neighbourhood, where the tree canopy is already far below that of other neighbourhoods.

It is almost laughable that one of the reasons cited by BC Housing for the removal of these trees is to provide amenity space in the form of outdoor seating, soft landscaping, and shade!

Our new mayor commented in the Committee of the Whole meeting on October 6 that it is unfortunate the trees are situated where they are. I challenge her to come up with a better location for these trees. They are exactly where they need to be – they are the sole source of beauty on that barren street in commercial/industrial downtown. They are where they need to be to provide therapy and solace to our downtown residents. Above all, they are on the extreme periphery of the property, well away from where any buildings need to be situated.

Unless, according to BC Housing, it’s simply not “cost effective” to retain these significant, endangered, irreplaceable landmarks. But we must not be misled by a false economy.

Toronto’s recent strategic forest management plan estimates the value of its urban forest at about $7 billion, including $25 million in carbon storage. It also provides an estimated $28.2 million annually in ecological services, such as removing air pollution, saving energy and sequestering carbon.

BC Housing needs to put more thought and creativity into their proposal for supportive housing on Discovery Street. Having elected councils which have mandated a progressive Urban Forest Master Plan and a sensible Tree Protection Bylaw, the citizens of Victoria deserve much better.

Janet Simpson, Victoria
for the Community Trees Matter Network

250-381-6657
(photo from the City of Victoria, Parks)