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An hour on a chainsaw can destroy hundreds of dollars in investments in trees, not to mention dozens of years of growth and “unquantifiable” environmental benefits and beauty
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Sault Star columnist Nadine Robinson writes that statutes should protect trees in all property in the city, not just parks.
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A large tree across from Sault Ste. The property of Mark Menean, a resident of Marie’s, was vandalized in April. One day it provided shade and habitat for wildlife and converted carbon dioxide and released oxygen into the environment. The next day, it was reduced to an eyesore with amputated limbs.
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Menean believes the tree was on the town’s property and wondered how that could have happened. He contacted the city and learned that the city does not have any statutes prohibiting any public person from removing trees, brush, or tall weeds / grass from city-owned property.
After reading my Earth Day column, Menean contacted me to ask if this seemed correct. My first thought was, what if everyone filled up on the Lorax and felled the trees closest to them in the city country? Shouldn’t the city worry? My second thought was joking that we could get our Christmas tree from Bellevue Park this year.
I was reminded of the quote from the Lorax by Dr. Seuss recalls, “If someone like you doesn’t care too much, nothing will get better. It’s not. “With that, I have decided not to leave this topic alone. I have researched this topic, and according to Section 270 (1) of the Municipal Act, all municipalities are obliged to draw up guidelines on:” the way in which how the community will protect and enhance the canopy and natural vegetation in the community. ”The Sault does not currently have this, although it should be completed by March 1, 2019.
I also checked other parishes’ policies and bylaws related to their location and the number of trees. For example, London, Ontario has fines ranging from $ 500 to $ 200,000 for violating tree protection regulations. They protect trees more than 50 centimeters in diameter and all trees in certain designated areas of the city.
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Then I branched out and spoke to Don McConnell, director, city planning and corporate services, and was pleased to hear that the official city map would be released in the next several months. It has a section on protecting and improving trees. He also put me in touch with Jeffrey King, one of the city’s attorneys / prosecutors, to help clear the trees off the forest on this matter.
First, King said that there is currently no ordinance to protect the trees on the city’s streets, but there is an ordinance for parks. According to statute 80-128 Parks 12 (2) with regard to park trees, shrubs, flowers: “No person may break, deface, but otherwise damage or remove trees or parts of trees, bushes or shrubs, flowers or flower beds …” (There goes mine ‘Against the grain’ free Christmas tree joke.) It would be even better if Biber could also adhere to the statutes. Have you seen their latest demolition work on the dam to Topsail Island?
Back to the city street trees, King was not amazed by my questions (his pun, not mine). He mentioned that if a tree is on the boundary of city ownership, the city must give consent to tree removal under the Forest Act. Failure to consult the city to remove a tree on city property or on the border could result in other applicable laws such as vandalism, trespassing, and / or mischief being persecuted.
King said the city will investigate the tree mutilation raised by Menean to see if it is within the parish line and what to do with the remaining “tree”.
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If the tree was on city property, I hope that the one in question will have to pay a fine and be hired to watch the Lorax. There is a precedent for this, as in 2018 a judge ordered a man who was sentenced to a year in prison for poaching to watch the movie Bambi once a month.
I checked the Property Standards Yard Maintenance bylaws to see if the eyesore was covered there, but I went on the wrong page. It states: “Every yard, including undeveloped land, must be kept clean and free of dead, decaying or damaged trees or other natural growth or branches or twigs that create an unsafe condition.” I do not believe that this “tree “Is an unsafe condition, except that neighbors are angry at having to look at him.
McConnell is right; we are not in southern Ontario, where trees are very popular: and a constitution is only worthwhile if it can be successfully enforced. We may not need tree regulations for trees on our own property, except maybe to save old trees (like in London, Ontario). However, we might want bylaws for trees in certain streets known for their beauty and charm as they are a tree-lined sanctuary, be it on urban or private lots.
I don’t think I’m barking at the wrong tree when I think that trees should be protected by statutes in all of urban spaces, not just parks. An hour on a chainsaw can destroy hundreds of dollars in investments in trees, not to mention dozens of years of growth and unquantifiable environmental benefits and beauty. Most of us are reasonable people, but for some we may need to be reminded beforehand that we do not have the right to cut down adjacent trees.
If we had a Lorax in the Sault, he would weep for the ‘tree son’ who started this column and he could repeat his words: “I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees. I speak for the trees because the trees have no tongues. And I ask you with all my heart, sir. Oh, please don’t cut someone else off. “
Nadine Robinson’s column is now published every Saturday. To make sure she doesn’t run out of supplies, you can reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @theinkran.
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