Editor:
At Wednesday’s Information Session about Gibsons Elementary trees, I saw caring SD46 staff working to address a complex issue. I understand safety is first and some trees will be removed. The aspiration to forge opportunities for ecological learning was shared, and I heard SD46 wants to “both manage risk and maintain our ecosystems.”
Knowing these aspirations, I am writing SD46 with some concerns and suggestions.
The falling of a large branch at school activated SD46 to ask the necessary question: “How can we best manage the risk of falling branches and trees?” Then, “Which trees should we cut?” A specialist was hired to answer that question.
Given the aspirations of SD46, more inclusive questions could be asked. “How can we best manage the risk of falling branches and trees, while safeguarding other ecological values children depend upon to be healthy and safe now and in the future?” Related: “Given the biodiversity crisis that this area is an important wildlife corridor and one of the last remnants of a self-regenerating native forest ecosystem in town, what other values can be considered?”
Effectively safeguarding values beyond the immediate priority of safety is possible. It requires not single-variable risk management, but an ecosystem management based approach: systems thinking and collaborative, multidisciplinary lenses. Attempting to manage ecosystem values without leveraging ecosystem-based approaches undermines our ability to sustain ecosystems.
With more inclusive questions, synergies will emerge.
I request SD46 consider: protecting soil health and living roots by minimizing compaction (a cause of tree death) through retaining stumps and not “grading” after tree removal; managing standing dead snags as habitat and food for native woodpeckers where safe and possible to do so; felling in a manner that prevents collateral damage to healthy trees; safeguarding and salvage-planting understory native food and medicine plants; and more.
Young people are marching in the streets, asking adults to up our game for the sake of their future. I know we can, together—for everyone’s safety.
Kim M. Wilkinson
Master’s in Environmental Management (MEM), Gibsons
