Montreal more than triples money destined to plant, protect trees

CTVnews.ca
Feb. 22, 2015

Montreal is more than tripling the amount of money its pouring into planting new trees and protecting the existing ones from the emerald ash borer this year.

The Coderre administration plans on spending $12.9 million on Montreal’s urban canopy versus the $3.6 million it shelled out last year. Just under $8 million will be spent on planting trees on public and private property and replacing those chopped down after becoming infested by the emerald ash borer, while $5 million will be put toward continued monitoring to prevent the invasive and destructive beetle from plaguing more trees.

“Every borough will receive money to plant close to 400 trees, and we’re very proud about that,” said Real Menard, executive committee member responsible for environment and green space.

The plan is to plant 300,000 more trees on the island, including in 240,000 Montreal’s 19 boroughs, in the next 10 years.

The city is also planning to protect 18,000 ash trees via injection with a bio-pesticide and screen 4,000 trees for the emerald ash borer over the course of the summer and fall.

The beetle first appeared in Montreal four years ago and has made its presence known since.

“This beetle is extremely fast. It spreads very, very rapidly. So of course time is a concern right now,” said Bruno Chicoine, owner of Antidote Arboriculture.

But despite the investment, Projet Montreal city councillor Sylvain Ouellet says the Coderre administration is not spending enough money to neutralize the problem.

The city would need to invest $15 million just to deal with the infested ash trees on Montreal streets, not including ones in parks, on the mountain and on the West Island, he said.

He said the beetle is now present in all of Montreal’s boroughs and it will take much more money to get the infestations under control.

“The emerald ash borer is winning the war,” he said.

But having researched how other cities are dealing with the emerald ash borer, Menard believes the city is moving in the right direction.

“We are very optimistic to fight and to win this battle,” he said.