We Must Preserve the Trees
Dear Editor:
I have been very impressed and pleased by the statements of City of Boston officials regarding their commitment to protect trees and promote tree cover in the City. I was deeply saddened and pained to see beautiful full trees being chopped down close to the intersection of Chestnut and Green Street in Jamaica Plain on Wednesday, June 14, 2023. The property 304 Chestnut Ave. has been condemned by the City’s Inspectional Service Department. The property is slated for new development.
It seems like every developer begins by cropping down trees. This standard practice must be challenged so that trees be preserved whenever possible, if they are healthy. The trees that were cut down had been there for decades. A neighbor told me that 7 trees were cut down. If each tree was 50 years old that would mean it would take 350 years to replace their loss. If new trees are planted it could take decades before they provide the shade, beauty, and carbon sequestering abilities of the trees that were cut down. Trees should not be on a “sacrifice zone” whenever there is new development. The trees deserve protection. Given that we all have to breathe we should view them as a common good. We all know that we have entered a new era; a time of “climate emergency.” Business as usual cannot continue. We need to do all that we can to protect coming generations from the devasting effects of Climate Change. It would be great if trees on land slated for new development had to have city approval before being cut down, especially healthy mature trees.
Virginia Pratt