Tree planting provides lesson

Re: Neglected vegetation left to die on airport land ‘slap in the face,’ by Dave Battagello, Dec. 4.

Our Little River Enhancement Group has been recommending the “connection” of the three woodlands on Windsor Airport property since February 1998. In April 2013, our group, along with the Essex Region Conservation Authority and Detroit River Canadian Cleanup received a “Consent to Enter Agreement for Tree Planting on Airport Lands” from the City of Windsor. This planting would effectively “connect” two of the airport woodlands. Included in this agreement and discussion was a statement from the airport, “YQG has reviewed the request and is satisfied that the planting of trees will not negatively affect airport operations.” The planting on June 4, 2013, involved the above groups and included two classes of Grade 5 and 6 students from David Suzuki Public School and community volunteers. The area planted “connected” two of the three woodlands and we celebrated the achievement. In the autumn of 2014, ERCA staff reported that these trees had an excellent survival rate of 84 per cent. In 2015, ERCA attempted to check the survival rate and do maintenance but airport management refused access to the property. As a result, the airport reported 90 per cent had died and plowed the remaining trees under. Shameful.

Our group and YQG had a similar, unfortunate experience earlier. On April 22, 1997 (Earth Day), students from Concord Public and Riverside Secondary Schools planted trees on YQG property with the airport manager’s blessing. Regrettably, these trees were accidentally mowed down. However, airport management graciously replanted the trees and they thrive today. There is a lesson here for today’s airport manager.

Ian Naisbitt, chair, Little River Enhancement Group