Deanna Pfeifer

It's devastating that 70 mature ‘memorial’ trees were cut down and Saanich plans to cut down another 45 for bike lanes along Shelbourne. More should be done to preserve our mature trees and look at alternative sites for bike lanes. I know I would prefer to bike in nature or on side streets where I can access some shade, avoid riding in traffic and distance myself from fumes instead of a busy street with no shade. Planting saplings in place of mature trees in urban spaces face a harsh environment. Hard paved surfaces limit access to rainfall and the engineered requirements of hardscapes are the complete opposite of what the tree needs to grow in. Trucks will need to deliver water to the saplings, and yet most will die. Some jurisdictions go to great lengths to preserve mature trees, especially in an urban environment because they recognize their value. This can be done by identifying, valuing and accounting for natural assets in their financial planning. I hope we do more to preserve the healthy mature trees we have left.