Editor:
For some time now I have been alarmed at the disappearance of trees around the North 40 dog park and the Boundary Bay Airport lands.
First the hawthorns along the blueberry field on Ladner Trunk Road, then the Lombardy poplars beside the nursery at the corner of Ladner Trunk and 72nd Street, but this week the most depressing of all was seeing the trees coming down along the rest of 72nd from Ladner Trunk south to the railway tracks.
For years, my family, the Delta Naturalists (to which I belong) and many other families and groups have enjoyed the tranquility and nature of the airport lands. The trees provided nests for raptors and other birds as well as a wind break for the fields, acting as a shield from the traffic on 72nd Street. What is being done will alter the ecology of the area.
I realize the damage is done, or will be by the end of the week, and that it is too late to stop the destruction. Having talked to the engineering department at municipal hall, I was informed the work is being done to "enhance irrigation for the farms south of Ladner Trunk" and that the ditches need to be widened and that experts were hired to do "environmental assessment."
I don't know of any of my naturalist/birder friends who are experts and have many years of experience birding the North 40 who were consulted.
I think my problem with how this project was done was that I, nor anyone I know, was remotely aware it was planned and, therefore, had no opportunity to speak against it.
It's of major concern to the municipality when one wishes to remove a single tree from their private property but what steps have been taken to gain approval for the removal of dozens of environmentally important trees along 72nd Street? Again, it's too late for the North 40 unless there are other plans we don't know about, but surely the process in the future should be a little more open and transparent.
Roger Meyer
