Protect the Planet Stop TMX volunteers are leading tours through an area where the discovery of hummingbird nests delayed construction of the pipeline.
After being alerted to the presence of hummingbird nests, Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a stop-work order on construction a section of the Trans Mountain project until Aug. 21. Each Saturday from noon to 2 p.m., volunteers with Protect the Planet Stop TMX, an environmental conservation organization, are taking small groups in to the area near the Burnaby and New Westminster border.
“Witness the beauty and wonder that is left of the forest our tree-sit is protecting. Visit the treehouse, which is built and occupied 24/7, in the forest which is slated to be cut down,” said a notice about the tours. “Come learn about the tree-sit, and how a dedicated community of volunteers have successfully stopped the pipeline for almost a year.”
The tours are family friendly but will pass through some rough forest trails that can be slippery and can include roots, logs and a few slopes. People should wear sturdy footwear, and bring water and a snack.
Organizers note that masks and distancing is mandatory, and dogs aren’t allowed as there are many active ground-nesting birds in the area that can’t be disturbed.
To register for the free tours, go to www.eventbrite.ca (search for Tours to the Treehouse – where the Hummingbird stopped the pipeline). Tour-goers will meet Lower Hume Park’s parking lot.
The Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project involves the construction of a 1,150-kilometre pipeline from Alberta (near Edmonton) to Burnaby. The project, approved by the federal government in June 2019, will expand the capacity of the original 1953 pipeline, by increasing the system’s capacity from 300,000 to 890,000 barrels per day.
For more information about the tours or Protect the Planet Stop TMX, go to: www.protect-the-planet-stop-tmx.webnode.com.
