Starting this September, the City of North Vancouver will be removing trees in parks and public spaces deemed a high risk to people and property as part of its annual removal and replanting program.
The City regularly monitors the health of trees on public property and tracks hazard trees that require removal. Whenever possible, the City looks to maintain trees rather than remove them. In cases of declining or dead trees, removal is necessary for public safety. Structural defects, weak branches, and other issues can cause a tree to come down and can contribute to wildfire fuels.
Trees throughout the community have been impacted by various stress factors that are causing many trees to decline and die. Some of these stressors include the western hemlock looper moth outbreak, disease, droughts and changes in climate.
Next Steps
Through the City’s ongoing monitoring and tree assessment program, approximately 94 trees have been identified as requiring removal for public safety. Most of the removals will take place in Mahon Park to address trees impacted by the western hemlock looper moth outbreak.
Tree removals are scheduled to start in September to avoid the bird-nesting season. The removals are expected to take around two months to complete. Minimal impacts to the surrounding areas are expected during this work.
Upon completion of the tree removals, the City will implement replanting and restoration plans unique to each location. The organized and planned approach to removing and replacing these living and growing assets will ensure the long-term sustainability of the urban forest.
Protecting the Urban Forest
The City manages over 9,800 trees in parks and boulevards throughout the community and countless trees in forested areas. Nearly 43 per cent of the City’s tree canopy is on City-owned land, with 35 per cent in parks.
The City is committed to protecting and expanding the community’s urban forest. Since 2019, the City has planted approximately 4,000 trees on public property, adding hundreds more each year. The City is also developing an Urban Forest Plan to protect and grow the urban forest over the next 30 years.
Wildfire Fuel Management
Removing dead trees is integral to the City’s wildfire prevention initiatives. Wildfire fuel management aims to create a fire-resilient ecosystem by reducing forest fuel accumulations..
More Information
Learn more about trees on public property at cnv.org/PublicTrees. For questions, please contact the Engineer, Parks, and Environment Department at eng@cnv.org or call 604-983-7333.