STANLEY PARK NOTEBOOK
/by Jacqui Birchall
(click images to enlarge)
160,000 DEAD TREES
Editor’s note: You can find links to the materials discussed at the end of this article.
Many park users are expressing their sadness at the extent of the tree removal from Stanley Park. There are several contrasting opinions. Those who are horrified that more than a quarter of Stanley Park’s trees are being removed, and those who say the future health, protection from fire and ecological renewal of the park will be enabled by the removal of these dead and dying trees.
The Looper Moth … A source of much damage and controversy.
The City of Vancouver describes why some of the removed trees may appear healthy, but are not, and why the removed trees have little commercial value. In terms of what’s happening with the more significant trees that were cut down, the city said “timber with potential for cultural use by First Nations will be offered to the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations” and that dedicated tree planting has started this spring to support a “strong, more resilient forest in Stanley Park.”
The Stanley Park Preservation Society challenges the park board’s actions, claiming, “the City of Vancouver has now created an emergency situation of increased fire risk… in a misguided effort to mitigate a naturally occurring native moth outbreak.”
The park board and the forestry contractor conducting the work have said the tree removals will decrease fire risks in the park.
The Stanley Park Ecology Society (SPES) has provided an excellent overview of how Stanley Park has been affected by the looper moth since 1910 and how regeneration of the park’s forest can occur.
SPES notes that the looper moth outbreaks usually last three years. This is the fifth year of this particular outbreak, according to the forestry contractor’s report that has served as the basis for the tree removals.
Since 1910, forest management has used various methods to overcome looper moth outbreaks, including cutting trees down, burning them, spraying lead arsenic from airplanes (back in 1929) and clearing the ensuing debris from the forest floor.
Currently, the park board says “using pesticides is not an option because they harm other, non-target insects that live in the forest ecosystem.”
SPES quotes from Sean Kieran’s 2008 book Inventing Stanley Park: An Environmental History, “in 1918-19, the dead and dying trees in the entire area surrounding Beaver Lake and the entire area behind the playground at Second Beach were cut down and burned.” During that time period there had also been extreme storms that brought down many trees but regeneration followed.
SPES concurred with the park board that the dead and dying trees have to be removed. They cause a danger to park users as they are likely to fall and the fire danger increases. These are the same motivating reasons presented in the forestry contractor’s report.
What is the upside of the tree removal? SPES explained the removal allows an ecological opportunity for the new growth of native trees, shrubs and invasive species. They notes that “with a sound invasive species management plan protecting new growth of native trees and understory, the gaps in the canopy today can help contribute to a healthy mixed-age forest.”
The Nature House at Lost Lagoon. (Kathleen Stormont Photo courtesy of SPES)
SPES NEWS
Joining the SPES Facebook page or following the society on Twitter and other social media sites will enhance your knowledge of the park and the organization’s wonderful work.
I continue to be a huge fan of the Stanley Park Ecology Society and am very grateful to the society’s community engagement coordinator Chris Rothery, and fundraising, development and communications manager Rebekah Thomas, for the information shared in this article.
Environmental Education in Stanley Park … Environmental education is a critical tool for addressing climate change. Fostering closer connections between people and their environment can increase care for the natural world and drive behavioural changes towards more eco-friendly outcomes! This summer, as the sun stays out longer, make some extra time to enjoy the nature in your neighbourhood. Learn about the urban ecosystems of Stanley Park with Stanley Park Ecology Society, which offers low-cost guided programs to learn about all kinds of topics in the park, and volunteer opportunities to teach about our incredible urban ecosystems throughout the summer!
Embrace nature at the summer EcoCamps. (Justine Kaseman Photo Courtesy of SPES)
The summer EcoCamps for ages 6-11 are open for registration. These are week long day camps with different themes every week. Get your kids outside and exploring nature in the park! For older youth, consider volunteering as an EcoCamp assistant.
Learn about nature in Stanley Park through a selection of guided nature walks and workshops. Learn about "Common Flowers and Fruits" (June 15 and 20), "Buzzing Native Bees" (June 22), and more!
If learning about nature isn't enough for you, you can get involved and help connect people to nature by volunteering with SPES. You can learn a lot about nature through teaching about it yourself!
Some of the opportunities include volunteer at the Nature House, with the EcoRangers, or with EcoCamps.
RECENT SPES PROJECTS
Floating Island Installation: You may have noticed some new additions to the landscape at Lost Lagoon. SPES Conservation staff and several stewardship volunteers recently put out three additional floating islands in the lagoon. There are now six floating islands installed and selectively planted with various native marsh plants able to withstand the brackish waters of Lost Lagoon. Floating treatment wetlands have been used around the world to improve water quality in degraded aquatic ecosystems, using an ecological restoration method called phytoremediation.
Some plants such as cattails and bulrushes are especially effective at taking up excess nutrients, toxins, and heavy metals through their roots. For the floating islands, the theory is that as the plant roots grow into the water column, they will slowly begin improving the water quality in the surrounding area of the islands. This method was used in the Lost Lagoon Biofiltration Pond, created in 2001 to treat the runoff water from the Causeway before it enters the rest of Lost Lagoon. SPES will continue water quality monitoring efforts of Lost Lagoon and Beaver Lake in the summer to track trends in the health of freshwater ecosystems in Stanley Park, as laid out in the SPES State of the Park Report for Ecological Integrity.
This project was made possible by the generous support of the EcoAction Community Funding Program.
Greater Vancouver Bird Celebration: Near the end of May, the Greater Vancouver Bird Celebration, organized collaboratively by SPES and partners, came to a close after hosting more than 40 free and low-cost community events meant to bring people together around birds and bird conservation. This year was the celebration's most successful year since the pandemic thanks to the tireless contributions of all the event partners.
Consider becoming a volunteer board member: SPES is seeking new members for their Board of Directors. The Board acts as trustees of the organizations assets, maintains their legal requirements, and sets standards of conduct. Multiple board positions are available. For more details, follow the link to their website below.
An Great Blue Heron chick that fell from its nest finds help and refuge. (Photo Courtesy of Wildlife Rescue Association of BC)
INJURED BIRDS AND ANIMALS
There are frequent questions on social media about what to do with an injured bird or animal. An organization qualified to answer those questions is the Wildlife Rescue Association of British Columbia. Their trained volunteers have been observed conducting rescues in Stanley Park.
If you find a bird or a creature that needs help, check their website for a guide on how to help. If you would like to drop off injured or orphaned wildlife, call 604-526-7275 for information.
Wildlife Rescue is powered by volunteer support. Without the dedication, energy and skills of our volunteers we would not be able to fulfil our vision and mission. Every year, over 200 volunteers dedicate over 20,000 hours both on- and off-site to further our cause and create the organization you see today. Whether on the frontline or behind the scenes, volunteers promote the welfare of wildlife and help give them a second chance at life.
Volunteer roles include education and outreach, transport and release of injured animals, working with the Wildlife Hospital, public-facing work at their Support Centre, working at the large outdoor site doing gardening and handy work, and office administration.
You can visit their website, below, for further information.
