The Editor,
Re. “Save cherry trees at PoCo complex” (Letters, The Tri-City News, April 5).
In his excellent letter, Bill Herbst generously says that he believes the city of Port Coquitlam did what it could to save the trees near the PoCo rec complex in anticipation of construction of the new rec centre.
In response to my letter on the topic, a staff member from the city’s engineering and public works division wrote back saying: “Once the building’s siting and access requirements were known, we carefully considered the potential for tree retention.”
But that is exactly backward. Rather than designing projects and then salvaging a handful of trees as an afterthought, priority must be given to preserving mature trees at the beginning, with the project designed around them.
The tree canopy in our region is coming down fast, with dramatic effects on livability and wildlife. We have to do better.
Rhamona Vos-Browning,
Port Coquitlam
