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1,000 trees planted locally due to G7 Summit deal

Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region one of 14 sites that planted 100,000 trees total
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Members of the partner institutions involved in the planting of 1,000 Douglas fir trees in the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region gather to celebrate the planting, and the installation of signage near the planting site. Those picutured are, front row left to right: Ken Epps, Island Timberlands; Graham Sakaki, MABRRI; Parksville coun. Kim Burden; Pam Jorgenson, TimberWest. Back row left to right: Ashley van Acken, MABRRI; Kayla Harris, MABR; Warren Payne, City of Parksville. — Submitted by City of Parksville

The Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region is now home to 1,000 more trees due to a national initiative meant to reduce the carbon footprint of the G7 Summit in La Malbaie, Quebec that is held this month.

In an effort to make the summit an environmentally responsible event, the federal government made an agreement with the Charlevoix Biosphere Reserve which included the planting of 100,000 trees across 14 of Canada’s 18 UNESCO biosphere reserves.

Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region (MABR) was included in the 14 sites, with 1,000 Douglas firs having been planted within Top Bridge Park.

On April 6, 45 youth ranging in age from three to 25 helped to plant the trees with the help of TimberWest (which donated the trees) and Vancouver Island University forestry students.

MABR partnered with the City of Parksville, Snaw-Naw-As First Nation, TimberWest and VIU.

Parksville council passed a resolution including the 50-year protection of 1,000 trees at Top Bridge Park, while TimberWest will work with MABR over the next few years to ensure an 85-per-cent survival rate among planted trees.

The trees are intended to offset about 143 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

To commemorate the planting, participants and partners gathered for the installation of signage adjacent to the tree-planting site on June 13.

— NEWS Staff/City of Parksville news release