Ron E

Many people place the value of trees in their living state, as providers of shade, as generators of oxygen, as cleansers of air, as homes for mammals, birds and bugs, as an inheritance given to us in trust to pass on to future generations in perpetuity, as benefits to the entire community. Conversely, others view trees as a nuisances towering above us, as an expendable asset owned by the titleholder of the property on which it stands, as a commodity that should be cut down for the almighty dollar. I note that the District of Squamish has adopted the Smart Growth on the Ground (SGOG) planning process. SGOG is all about the following (from the SGOG - Squamish website (http://www.sgog.bc.ca/content.asp?contentID=129): 'The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District was the fastest-growing region in BC between 1996 and 2001, and the 2010 Olympics promises that rapid growth will continue. As the future unfolds, Squamish will need to accommodate growth and development, while ensuring that the quality of life and its beautiful natural surroundings - the very qualities that attract people to the Sea to Sky Corridor and the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada - are preserved.' Thank you to concerned citizens who are showing and voicing their support and are working to preserve the trees, the natural surroundings and the recreational assets in this rapidly developing community. 'We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.' -- Aldo Leopold [1887-1948], American conservationist.