Park Board approves more Stanley Park tree removal [Video]

The Vancouver Park Board plans to continue removing dead trees from Stanley Park.

Joe McLeod, the associate director of urban forestry with the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, said the work is necessary to ensure public safety and mitigate wildfire risks.

“We don’t want to get to a point where we’re gambling with people’s lives,” he said.

McLeod said there are about 160,000 dead trees due to the hemlock looper moth, but said only a fraction of those trees will be removed.

In Phase 1 of the work, he said less than 8,000 trees were removed. According to McLeod, Phase 2 will see around 11 per cent of Stanley Park’s forested areas targeted.

“With the passing of time, those trees become more likely to fail.” he said. “And when those trees fail, obviously that’s a great deal of mass that could impact a person.”

On Tuesday, the park board voted to continue this plan, despite hearing from dozens of speakers against it. 

At the meeting, Vancouver resident …