This fall, the City of North Vancouver is removing trees in parks and public spaces deemed a high risk to people and property as part of its annual tree removal and replanting program.
The City regularly monitors the health of trees on public property and tracks hazardous 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 fall down and can contribute to wildfire fuels.
Next Steps
Trees throughout the community have been impacted by various stress factors that are causing many trees to decline and die. Through the City’s ongoing monitoring and tree assessment program, approximately 300 trees have been identified as requiring removal for public safety this fall. The majority of removals will take place in Greenwood, Heywood and Eastview Parks to address trees impacted by the western hemlock looper moth outbreak and extreme heat waves. Additional areas requiring removals include Loutet, Mahon and Kealy Woods Parks, among others.
Tree removals started in late August to avoid the bird nesting season. All the removals are expected to take around four months to complete. Minimal impacts to the parks and 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, as well as countless trees in forested areas. More than half (65 per cent) of the City’s tree canopy is on publicly managed land, with 38 per cent located in parks, 25 per cent in streets and rights-of-way, and another 2 per cent on other City land.
The City is committed to protecting and expanding the community’s urban forest. Each year, we plant around 1,000 trees and shrubs on public land. The City is also developing an Urban Forest Plan to protect and grow the urban forest over the next 30 years. Learn more at cnv.org/UrbanForest.
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 Engineering, Parks and Environment Department at eng@cnv.org or call 604-983-7333.