Winter not so tough on pine beetles

A mild winter has given the Mountain Pine Beetle an early lead in the continuing battle between them and the pine tree population.

A recent value survey conducted by Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, with samples coming from the Peace River region, showed that more adult beetles were able to survey the winter, readying themselves for feasting later this summer.

Read more: http://tinyurl.com/ofpad54

Capitol Hill residents in uproar over city’s removal of dozens of trees

Northwest residents who claim a concrete sound barrier is already failing them say the city’s removal of dozens of trees is only worsening noise pollution.

Last year, city workers pulled 15 large spruce trees from along Capitol Hill Cres. N.W. that were planted partly as a sound break along Crowchild Tr.

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Huge infestation threatens southwest neighbourhood trees

EDMONTON – Southwest Edmonton neighbourhoods are suffering a serious infestation of lilac ash borers that’s putting the future of 1,700 boulevard and park trees at risk.

Although the moth larva is widely distributed in Edmonton, large numbers of the destructive insect have turned up in ash around Terwillegar Towne and Terwillegar South, city principal of forestry Jeannette Wheeler says.

Read more:  http://tinyurl.com/cg32s2u

Controversial clearcutting OK’d

A controversial plan that brought Bragg Creek residents out to consultation meetings in droves has been approved by Environment and Sustainable Resource Development.

Cochrane’s Spray Lake  Sawmills has been chosen to harvest trees on 700 hectares west of the tiny hamlet, the intention being to mitigate the threat of wildfires which Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resources officials have said is a severe concern.

Read more:  http://tinyurl.com/axhtg9s

Plan calls for more green again in Churchill Square

EDMONTON – Large swaths of Churchill Square will be filled with trees and city centre festivals will shift onto 99th Street, if city planners have their way.

There would be a park north of City Hall, where the post office parking lot is now. The avenue between City Hall and Churchill Square would also be torn up, and the Three Bananas Cafe would be bordered with a strip of green tree canopy to the north and west. A green connection would continue south down 99th Street to the river valley.

Read more: http://tinyurl.com/col7pg4