Environment

Lars Shearer – President of Burley Boys

Friends of the Environment

It's hard to imagine that what is now “Vancouver City” was once completely covered with some of the largest and most magnificent trees in the world. The Hollow Tree (Stanley Park's Hollow Tree) is a prime example of the trees that once covered the entire area.

Estimated to be anywhere from 700 to over 1000 years old in 2009, the hollow tree was once struck by lightning removing most of it's inner core at the base. It's history includes generations of tourists visiting Vancouver to have their picture taken while sitting in horse drawn carriages, and later their vehicles inside the tree's hollow trunk.

As Vancouver grew, the trees were removed to make room for expansion. The trees were cut to make wood for building the expansion, and as the city grew the forest diminished. What wasn't realized at the time was that the removal of these trees would seriously affect the environment, and would some day develop into what is now called “The Greenhouse Effect”.

The Greenhouse Effect

Trees absorb Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) and through photosynthesis produce carbohydrates (their food) while expending Oxygen (O) as a by-product. They are the perfect compliment to man and animals.

A typical concentration of CO₂ in air is about 0.038% or 380 ppm. The concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide rises and falls in a seasonal pattern over a range of about 6 ppmv. The concentration of CO₂ in air has been steadily increasing from year to year for over 60 years. The current rate of increase is about 2 ppm per year.^[1]

The burning of fossil fuels is a major contributor to the increase of CO₂. A single gallon of gasoline weighing about 6.3 pounds produces 20 pounds of CO₂^[2]

With the increase in CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and the decrease in the tree population, the excess CO₂ is expended into the atmosphere where it builds up, increasing the density of the atmosphere and trapping the earth's heat within it.

The Global Solution

Governments worldwide are pressuring automobile manufacturers to produce more efficient hybrid vehicles. While this may slow down the rate of increase of CO₂ it will not stop it. At the same time as the Government fights to reduce fossil fuel emissions, trees (one of the largest consumers of CO₂) continue to be cut down.

Much of it is unpreventable; some trees become damaged by wind storms, lightning, or other natural occurrences, and as the population grows areas must be cleared to provide housing and resources.

Burley Boys Contribution to The Solution

Young Sapling – ready to plant

The problem can only be solved through a consorted effort by everyone. While the government and the EPA work on slowing the rate of CO₂ increase, Burley Boys intends to increase the rate of CO₂ consumption as best it can.

In the fall of 2009 Burley Boys Tree Service announced their “Replace a Tree” program where for every tree that is taken down as a result of either natural disaster (where they would clear it) or clearing for construction, a new tree will be planted free of charge. The new tree will be planted either at the same location as the original tree (if possible), or at a suitable location as close to the original location as possible.

For more information on the Burley Boys ‘Replace a Tree’ program see: <Burley Boys ‘Replace a Tree’ Program>

Fallen Trees – Where do they go?

In places other than uninhabited forests, trees are seldom left where they fall. In all cases where the trees are to be removed the branches are first removed with a chainsaw leaving only the trunk. If the trunk is at least 10' long, of sizable width (10"+), and can be brought down safely in one piece, it is sent to the mill where it is cut into lumber products for building. In Urban Forestry areas where trees are grown among populated areas this is seldom the case. The trees must be cut into 10"-12" lengths (rounds) as they are brought down and are unsuitable for milling so must be disposed of.

The Waste Problem

Disposing of fallen trees in a land fill is both expensive (charged by weight) and a tremendous waste of useful resources. Even after it has fallen, there is an enormous amount of energy in a tree that can be put to use. For this reason, as of 2009 Burley Boys has taken following steps to ensure that none of these resources are wasted:

The branches are put through a chipper where they are reduced to tiny chips suitable for landscaping, bedding for children's play areas, animal bedding, lining trails, or weed control.
The trunks (rounds) are split into firewood that can be burned for pleasure or to decrease the energy requirements to heat a home in the winter.

Burley Boys offers these resources as they become available to anyone who requests them.

If you have a use for wood chips, call Burley Boys and we'll have a truck load delivered to you free of charge. For more information see {Free Wood Chips}.

If you would like fire wood, Burley Boys can deliver it to your door. There is a charge for fire wood to cover the cost of splitting, storage, loading, and delivery. For more information see {Fire Wood}.

Summary

Burley Boys Tree Service is making every possible effort to be Friends of The Environment in every way we can. Our commitment to Environmentally Friendly Tree Services now includes:

“Replace a Tree” – where every fallen tree is replaced with a new tree
“Free Wood Chips” – available for landscaping, bedding for children's play areas, animal bedding, lining trails, or weed control.
“Milling Trees” – wherever possible fallen trees are milled into useful wood
“Fire Wood” – to reduce energy consumption for home heating

We welcome any further ideas or suggestions you may have on how we can provide a more environmentally friendly tree service.

– Lars Shearer

Burley Boys Tree Service