No protection for wooded areas in Kincardine, says resident

To the Editor:

I live in the north end of the Town of Kincardine. Three wooded lots of five acres each, near us, have been completely devastated by clear-cutting.

We have ash trees everywhere in our municipality being removed because of disease, and 15 acres of healthy woods have been removed. All was privately-owned land, in the stewardship of the golf course, or citizens of Kincardine, but were sold to build homes.

No one expected clear-cuts in this day and age in a town that takes pride in its treed properties. But as many homes as possible must be jammed into this space with no green space even considered for a park area for the children. The clear-cuts were done legally, though, because in Kincardine, we have nothing that protects our trees unless they are on municipal land (and this just in the last year).

We were all counting on the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority (SVCA) to recognize the need for these woods to remain, filtering water from the highway down to the lake, cooling our air, providing sanctuaries for the owls, fox, turtles, deer and migratory birds. (Yes those of us who live nearby have been in those woods and have seen all of these.) That didn’t work out, though.

In other towns, such as Grand Bend, bylaws are in place for private lands, that prevent developers from clear-cutting woods. These laws expect only those trees necessary for the footprint of the building, to be taken down, and each tree of a certain size that is removed must be replaced by two of the same species somewhere in the area.

That municipality doesn’t prevent the average person from cutting a tree on his property, but requires him to get a permit. If the tree is dead, no charge. If it’s living and healthy, a new tree is expected to be planted or fees are charged so the municipality can plant one or two (depending on the size taken down). In the town limits, neighbours who are affected by the tree for shade, must give written consent also.

Unless it happens to you, you have no idea how painful it is to watch woods being completely clear-cut. To watch the animals scrambling. Huge machines come in and cut 30-centimetre-diameter trunks as if they were daisy stems, then others come ripping the stumps out.

People had turtles caught in their window wells. There were fox running on and off the property each time the equipment left, confused and wondering where to go. We have had more mice than ever in our homes, sheds, and garages, desperate to find shelter. There were windfall trees that we heard from blocks away, because they were no longer protected by the other trees. All to cram in new homes … for some newcomers who will be able to afford them.

With years of pleading our cases, in the end, only newcomers were considered, with no respect or consideration for those who already live here. There are places all around us that are already cleared of trees where residential developments could have gone.

If you have wooded areas near you in town, make no mistake, someone will approach the owners to sell them. Don’t for a second be naïve enough to think they are protected by anyone. Not the SVCA, not the municipality, not your neighbours who may own them.

There will be clear-cutting until council agrees to develop proper private tree bylaws with sound environmental practices. Right now, my recommendation is … don’t read or watch “The Lorax” with your children. In this town, it will only confuse them.

Sincerely,
One of many residents concerned for our trees
Kincardinites Concerned For Our Trees
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