Sequoias for cedars: West Vancouver woman wants to transplant 480 California trees to North Shore, Burnaby
Credit to Author: Cheryl Chan| Date: Sun, 18 Aug 2019 00:35:31 +0000
Susan Bibbing witnessed the slow, steady dying of red cedar trees in her West Vancouver neighbourhood.
“A lot of these cedar trees are dying from the top down,” said Bibbing. “Some are completely dead, some are a third or a half dead. That hillside is being spotted brown when it used to be a solid green.”
The decline of the towering coastal trees — a phenomenon occurring across southwestern B.C. — is an early warning indication of climate change, according to experts.
Red cedars are considered the canary in the coal mine of trees, especially vulnerable to heat and recurring drought because their shallow root systems cannot withstand more than eight to 12 weeks of drought.
That means the red cedars, which have long been a fixture on our coasts, might not have a bright future in B.C.
A passionate environmentalist and tree lover, Bibbing was spurred to action. Her solution: Sequoias.
It makes no sense to replant the same species in the face of climate change, so Bibbing decided to order sequoias seedlings and is looking for residents to give them a new home.
The redwood species aren’t native to B.C., but have myriad benefits.
“They’re the rock stars of carbon sequestration,” said Bibbing. “They are more suited to a warmer climate like ours is becoming, and they are drought resistant and wildfire resistant.”
She’s certain sequoias will thrive here because Victoria is already home to about three dozen, and several are scattered across Metro Vancouver, including a 130-year tree planted at historic Hycroft mansion by the McRae daughters.
On Friday, Bibbing received her first shipment of tree seedlings for her Sequoia Solution initiative.
She carefully unpacked 210 giant sequoia seedlings and 210 coastal redwood sequoia seedlings, which she plans to sell at farmers markets on the North Shore and in Burnaby for $15 each.
Because sequoias should be planted about 15 feet away from the next tree or building, Bibbing also ordered 60 Italian cypress seedlings for people with smaller lots. The Italian cypress — thin, elegant trees common in Tuscany — also do better in slightly warmer climes.
Bibbing said she’s received enthusiastic feedback from individuals keen to plant the trees in their backyards, but also corporations interested in community planting sessions for their employees. Those who want to support the initiative but don’t have yards can choose to “adopt” trees instead.
The project is a “sensational idea,” said North Vancouver resident George Orr. The former veteran broadcast journalist jumped on board after hearing about the project from Bibbing.
Though Orr is running as Green party candidate in North Vancouver, the project is a non-partisan effort.
“This is a political movement more than a party,” said Orr. “We’ll work with anyone with good ideas.”
Bibbing, who believes in the power of trees to heal the environment and stave off global warming, said her dream is for Canada to do a mass tree-planting event, like what Ethiopia did last month, planting more than 350 million trees in 12 hours.
“I’d really love for our government to move in this direction,” she said. “It’s a non-political solution, it’s a no-brainer, and it’s the cheapest solution.”