KELOWNA — To some, they are just a bunch of trees, but to the City of Kelowna they are a vital part of the ecosystem and that’s why it has launched a full investigation.
The city says nearly a dozen ponderosa pines are either dead or dying in a city park in Kelowna’s Mission.
Todd Cashin with the City of Kelowna says they are just a bunch of trees to some, but they do have a role the play.
“It’s a steep slope with very sandy soils. We need those root systems on that slope to hold it in place.”
The trees are wrapped with pink ribbons — put there by the city. Soil samples have been taken and sent to a lab to determine what type of poison was used.
Cashin says he’s seen this type of destruction before where homeowners destroy trees to improve their view and increase their property values.
Get daily National news
The trees are located just below a massive home currently under construction. Cashin says he has spoken with the owner.
“He was quite shocked that we were there. It was news to him but other than that, that was the extent of the conversation.”
Cashin insist this is not the end of the story. He says the city plans on sending by-law officers back to the subdivision to question construction crews on whether they may have seen anything suspicious.
“Because in the end this may be something we forward to the RCMP.”
The City of Kelowna says that if the person responsible for killing the trees is found, they would have to replant the trees and face fines of up $2000 per tree.
Comments