The City of Vancouver (“COV”), by its own explicit admission, sought the opinion of but one consultant, B.A. Blackwell & Associates Ltd. (“Blackwell”),  which has a narrow risk-averse view which is typical of old-school forestry industry operators. Further, by its own explicit admission, COV decided it was necessary neither to involve the public nor consider alternate views from experts such as biologists, ecologists, or arborists--many of whom have been informed by updated science which suggests that cutting dead trees does not reduce fire risk, but rather increases it as well as causing other negative effects to the ecosystem.

COV’s justification for its one-consultant process was that there was an emergency which precluded additional consultations and public disclosure and discussion; however, that such an emergency even existed was a presupposition upon which the opinion of the one Blackwell firm was relied (or perhaps solicited). 

This single-minded, circular process has resulted in an action which, in the views of many experts who were not consulted by COV, has created an elevated fire risk which did not previously exist; and has caused severe degradation of both the ecological integrity of Stanley Park and the user experience for decades to come.

Therefore, the logging of Stanley Park should be halted immediately and there should be a public investigation into the process by which the operation came about and to assess the most reasonable path forward considering the views of multiple experts and the interests of stakeholders.