June 30th, 2024
11 AM - 1 PM PDT (GMT-7)
Lost Lagoon, Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC, Canada
A free 'walk or cycle' guided tour with Norman Oberson, a certified arborist and tree danger risk assessor. He has impressive knowledge of the coastal hemlock forest. He will show us some hidden treasures, still intact.
Norman will also refer to the famous Blackwell Report (Stanley Park Hemlock Looper Impact and Wildfire Risk Assessment) of January, 2024 . He will discuss numerous errors and contradictions in the report. Each of us can form our own opinion as to whether the report provides adequate justification for the logging operation in Stanley Park, which is expected to continue in the fall.
Participants may find it beneficial to read the report in advance of the walk, and to bring either a paper or digital copy along on the walk.
Walk or bike! Meet at the old concrete bridge at the west end of Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC: 49.295600341102826, -123.14608308376772.
Additional information:
Norman will also discuss two distinct methods used by arborists and foresters to assess whether trees are hazardous: Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) and the Wildlife/Danger Tree Assessor's Course (WDTAC). In Stanley Park, Blackwell utilized the TRAQ protocol, however Norman believes that this was incorrect in that TRAQ is designed for residential areas. In parks, WDTAC should be used. WDTAC will likely produce different results, in that WDTAC takes into consideration factors excluded in TRAQ, such as the value of trees to wildlife.