Vancouverites protest Stanley Park tree removal as moth outbreak cleanup continues

A group of Vancouver residents have renewed their plea to the city’s Park Board to halt the removal of trees from Stanley Park that were damaged by a moth outbreak.

Michael Robert Caditz and Jillian Maguire of the Stanley Park Preservation Society shared photos the group took of a 500-year-old Douglas fir that he said was set to “be destroyed.”

However, the Vancouver Park Board pushed back against the claims, telling Daily Hive Urbanized that the “allegations” were “not accurate.”

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“A large old-growth, over 500-year-old Douglas fir, has been tagged for imminent destruction by the City of Vancouver,” said Maguire in a release.

“Destruction of old-growth forest is an ongoing issue in British Columbia. Stanley Park is unique in its proximity to a large metropolitan area. Further, its native coastal western hemlock forest is one of the few remaining.”

Caditz told Daily Hive Urbanized that an independent inspection reveals that more studies need to be done before the giant tree is removed.

“There’s blue ribbon on the tree, which means it’s to be removed,” explained Caditz. “The tree shows that it has been cut into with a chainsaw, with test wood at the bottom where it would be felled. That would also be done only if it were to be removed.

“A basic inspection suggests there could possibly be some risk in the upper crown of the tree. The worst-case scenario is that there needs to be some topping, but the majority of the tree can stay. The tree can’t be properly mitigated until this happens.”

The Stanley Park Preservation Society are also behind an ongoing Change.org petition titled, “Halt logging of Stanley Park! Save our coastal western hemlock forest!”

The petition has garnered over 23,000 signatures since it launched in February 2024.

However, the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation told Daily Hive Urbanized that Stanley Park Preservation Society’s allegations regarding the imminent felling of an “ancient fir” are not accurate.

“The tree in question is dead as it experienced a substantial failure several years ago, with its living top breaking off. What remains is a 90-foot trunk,” said the Park Board.

“It’s also important to note that prior to any work taking place, Park Board Urban Forestry staff review assessments done by the contractor, along with reviewing the work plans that outline the scope of the work.”

The Park Board also stated that it was important to clarify that the dead tree had not been marked for removal.

“The misunderstanding appears to have stemmed from the assumption that all the blue ribbons indicate trees marked for removal. Which, in fact, is not the case. These ribbons serve as reference points for various types of work, which include retention, protection, pruning, monitoring, and other actions.”

The looper moth experiences outbreaks on a 15-year cycle, with each outbreak typically lasting for up to two years before the insects are killed by cold winters and natural predators.

The outbreak began in 2019 on the North Shore and, due to warmer winter and spring conditions, continued for several years. The Park Board did not use pesticides as it would impact other moths, butterflies, and other insect species.

According to a B.C. Supreme Court judgement, the moths eat the trees, which leads to them losing leaves and often dying.

In 2022, the tree-feasting looper moths were spotted in Stanley Park. Daily Hive Urbanized received a statement at the time from a Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation spokesperson about the damage the moths were causing.

“A significant portion of the park is affected, particularly near the Lions Gate Bridge. This outbreak is also heavily affecting parts of West and North Vancouver, where many trees are showing signs of infestation,” said the park board spokesperson.

Removing dead trees is necessary for public safety in Stanley Park, according to a report to the City, since dry, dead trees contribute to wildfire risk in downtown Vancouver.

“Though 160,000 of these trees were affected — including western hemlock, Douglas fir, and grand fir — only a fraction of these trees are a risk to public safety and will need to be cut-down,” stated the City of Vancouver online.

In 2024, Caditz, Maguire and two other colleagues were denied an injunction by the B.C. Supreme Court to stop the tree removal in Stanley Park. However, the group is hoping for an opportunity to present its case again in the B.C. Court of Appeal.

In the meantime, the Park Board began the final phase of hemlock looper mitigation work in Stanley Park this week, focusing on hemlock looper-affected trees next to interior paths.

Work will take place adjacent to Lees Trail, Lovers Walk, Tatlow Trail and paths by Beaver Lake.

The Park Board stated that periodic trail closures will be in effect as mitigation work continues, and that a limited number of hazardous trees outside the area will also be treated.

“Managing and mitigating this issue has been paramount for us as we work to fulfil our commitment to the safety and well-being of Stanley Park and its visitors,” said Park Board Chair Tom Digby in a release.

“It is also an opportunity for us to plant a variety of species to create a more resilient Stanley Park that can stand up to future challenges.”

According to the Park Board’s website, approximately 11,000 trees have been removed across all phases, and a total of 58 per cent of Stanley Park’s forested areas have been treated.