Thousands sign petition to save trees at UBC from being chopped down for development

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Thousands of people are calling on the University of B.C. to save 100-year-old trees from being chopped down to make way for a new development at the Vancouver campus.

A petition on Change.org by UBC resident Su Wang is asking the university to preserve just over 30 maple and cedar trees at the Carey Hall development site. The petition has collected nearly 18,000 signatures on Friday.

“I watch these trees every day, and I watch the squirrels that play across there every day,” said Wang, who also goes by Alice. “That’s why this is really heartbreaking.”

According to UBC, a development permit application has been received for the expansion of Carey Theological College to the east and south of the existing Carey Centre at 5920 Iona Dr.

The trees would be cut down under a proposal to build a six-storey building on the north side of Walter Gage Road and a four-storey building on the west side of Wesbrook Mall.

This project will be reviewed by the UBC development permit board on March 9.

Removing the healthy trees could threaten an ecosystem that includes insects, rodents, birds and plants, said Wang.

“Underground (the trees) have root systems that form very collaborative communities and these mature trees are the foundations of that,” she said. “When we remove these trees, we are damaging this entire ecosystem.”

Matthew Ramsey, director of university affairs at UBC, said the new construction would include the removal of some mature trees, and that UBC is aware of an active online petition to save the trees.

He said Carey Hall operates independently of UBC but that its plan aligns with the university’s goal to increase diverse housing opportunities on campus.

Ramsey said staff have heard from the community that there is concern regarding loss of mature trees, and added that UBC has a one-for-one tree replacement policy.

That means UBC will be required to replace the 31 trees that are removed elsewhere, and the project is proposing to plant 68 trees, a net gain of 37 trees, according to Ramsey.

“The Iona Woods Preserve, a mature forested area, is adjacent to the development and will be protected and enhanced,” he said in an email. “A stand of mature cedars at the corner of Iona Drive and Wesbrook Mall will be protected as community green space.”

Feedback from the community will be considered along with staff technical analysis prior to approval, he added. Information on the size and health of the trees that will be removed or retained will also be included in the development application process.

Wang said the mature trees aren’t easily replaceable.

“Their impact on the ecosystem cannot be replaced by planting one seedling, or even more than one seedling.”

A virtual open house on the development proposal will be held on Feb. 16. Those who want to attend can register for the 11:30 a.m. session or the 7 p.m. session.

— with files from Cheryl Chan

ticrawford@postmedia.com

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