Dear Stanley Park Hollow Tree Conservation Society,   

 I have just heard of the plan to spend up to $200,000.00 in a dead tree. This shocks and disappoints me. How many young trees can be planted with this amount of money, time and energy? Furthermore, [no consideration appears to be given to] the greenhouse gases produced by manufacturing all the cables, stainless steel, cement, lumber, fuel and whatever else it takes to hold up a tree past the end of its life.

Coastal Native peoples have an admirable attitude: when their great totem poles' time was up, people let them fall over and decay. Are we trying to deny that this happens to us all? Think of it as practice. Practice for letting go. We must let go of all other things. All things will pass.

Live and Let Die 

Mike 

 

Dear Mike, 

Thanks for taking the time to write. Your passion for the environment is commendable and we hold similar views.  You’ll be happy to hear that the real story with the Hollow Tree is different than you’ve pictured, in several ways:

First, the Hollow Tree is being restored by volunteers.  No public funds are being spent on it and most of the costs you have heard of are just the estimated equivalent value of their volunteer time - dozens of kind people spending a few hours a week for a few months to reverse the effects of past neglect.

Regarding your views on death – and this is not a criticism in any way – they really don’t apply here.  The Hollow Tree is not a living tree and has not been for generations – it is a very solid wooden artefact that represents the form of a giant ancient tree that once lived here.  There has been a slow change in the last few decades in the ground under the tree - it has been shifting and needs to be reinforced.  And that can be easily fixed.

We – and many other Vancouverites – believe it should be fixed because the Hollow Tree is a heritage landmark, much like a historic monument or building. Our society regularly invests in preservation of such landmarks.

Now of course not everyone appreciates the Hollow Tree, but the fact is that millions of people from all over the world do.  It is a major tourist attraction and tourism generates vast employment and tax revenues that are used for many things, including looking after people in need and protecting the environment.  Further, the Hollow Tree teaches visitors about the importance of nature and so it encourages people to care more for the environment.

As for showing the importance of decay in nature, we are all for that:  Stanley Park has hundreds of decaying fallen trees and one of the largest is just a two minute walk from the Hollow Tree – so those who wish to observe this can easily do so.

Regarding greenhouse gas emissions, the Hollow Tree would release 20 tons of CO₂ into the atmosphere by rotting away.  In contrast, making the required underground supports will produce less than a single ton of CO₂, so we will actually be saving over 19 tons of CO₂ emission. As for the other materials and supplies used in the project, they will be recycled or re-used.

In short, only good things will come from restoring the Hollow Tree monument.  We do appreciate your comments and your commitment to the environment and hope you will convey to others the legacy of the Hollow Tree. 

Sincerely, 

Friends of the Hollow Tree