With the advent of climate change we have experienced over the decade, we have seen a toll taken on our urban foliage. Be it in our own back yards or the greater urban forest that surrounds us, we have seen species of trees and plants that have flourished here for centuries beginning to struggle to adapt to the rapid changes in our environment.

Yuna Fahim – Local Journalism Initiative

During this time of a rapidly warming climate and unprecedented development, it is vital that every neighbourhood enjoys all the benefits that trees provide.

In response to this threat to our environment the Wonderous Tree Fellowship, Burke Mountain Naturalists, and the Tri-Cities Urban Forest Working Group recently got together to hold a forum entitled Trees For A Changing Landscape at Douglas Collage in Coquitlam.

The forum was filled to capacity and brought together a diverse group of Tri-Cities residents who's common bond was their love for nature and their desire to see a strong and healthy urban forest.

The forum focused on the vital roll that trees play in our city and featured speakers ; Nancy Furness of the Wondrous Tree Fellowship who spoke about "tree equity" and the benefits that trees afford us in general, James Bobick, a Red Seal certified horticulturalist also with the Wondrous Tree Fellowship, who spoke about which species of trees are best suited for our changing environment, and Darek Churchill, also a Red Seal certified landscape horticulturalist with over twenty years of experience who spoke about common landscaping mistakes and shared strategies to help ensure our landscaped endure the challenges of climate change.