Some 4,000 dead ash trees will be cut down at the Îles-de-Boucherville National Park between the weeks of August 12 and 22, the Société des établissements de plein air du Québec (SEPAQ) announced on Thursday.
The harvesting of these trees, victims of the emerald ash borer, “an invasive and extremely destructive exotic insect”, will result in the temporary closure of various trails, indicates the organization’s press release.
“Only dead ash trees and those at risk of falling located in busy areas will be removed,” specifies the SEPAQ, adding that the work will be carried out in a way that minimizes the impact on the natural environment and preserves the habitat of surrounding wildlife species.
“Trees will remain on the ground or half-cut to continue to provide food, shelter or perch for birds, reptiles or insects in the environment, in addition to enriching the soil during their decomposition process,” it is specified.
The work was entrusted to the Centre de valorisation du bois urbain, a social economy enterprise in Montérégie, in order to enhance the value of “a large portion of the recovered wood” by transforming it into boards or integrating it into structures.
The Urban Wood Recovery Centre found itself in the news last spring when it was targeted by acts of vandalism in the context of the construction of the Northvolt battery gigafactory, which mandated it to cut down and recycle trees on its land.
Following the cuts at the Îles-de-Boucherville National Park, the SEPAQ indicates that it will implement a forest cover restoration plan that includes “the planting of a variety of resistant and resilient tree species.”