CollingwoodToday welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected] or via the website. Please include your full name, daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). The following letter was sent by the Collingwood Climate Action Team in response to the Town of Collingwood's plans for the reconstruction of Sixth Street.
The Collingwood Climate Action Team (CCAT) supports the removal of 36 trees on Sixth Street for a multi-modal road design that, planned accordingly, will implement sustainable planning and achieve multiple co-benefits such as net environmental gain.
This is not about trees or bikes – this is about trees and bikes, and doing our best to both mitigate and adapt to local climate impacts and build resilient and healthier ways of living.
There seems to be mixed messages, lots of misinformation and with all the uncertainty we are all feeling because of the climate crisis, the changes that are happening in our town and what our future holds the trees become an important symbol.
We all love trees and hate it when we hear that trees are being taken down – especially if it feels like it is unwarranted.
Trees bring us joy, solace, and energy. They provide us with a canopy to protect us and nature. They help by soaking in carbon dioxide and breathing out oxygen for us. And certainly, the Collingwood Climate Action Team would not support the taking down of trees if it is unreasonable or is simply for the purpose of putting in bike lanes.
We understand it can be counter-intuitive for the removal of trees to actually help the town in addressing its 2019 Climate Declaration. CCAT agrees with town staff and councillors that net benefit can be achieved by:
- replacing the 36 trees with a greater number of canopy trees (2:1 at minimum);
- encouragement of active transportation to reduce dependence on vehicles and ultimately reduce community climate pollution;
- consulting with qualified arborists on the greatest maturity/size of tree that can be planted without sacrificing survival rates;
- planting native species, and planning for biodiversity metrics;
- maintaining climate-safe infrastructure;
- implementing a climate lens in all aspects of the project planning, including with construction materials and incorporating green infrastructure (ex. permeable road surfaces for increased flood mitigation, pollinator and/or rain gardens on mediums/boulevards, etc.).
The Sixth Street reconstruction is part of the long-term planning for the town and its residents.
This care and maintenance of aging infrastructure must be done for the town and its residents to function safely and have our daily needs met.
Just think about what is happening out in Calgary with their broken water main.
We ask the town to continue the plan as envisioned, planned, and supported through the process of the staff with input and opportunities from citizens.
Please keep up the good work and continue to make thoughtful and courageous decisions for the future generations of trees and people.
The Collingwood Climate Action Team
