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Where 12 trees were.
Now mere stumps.

Vancouver has a backlog of 5,500 stumps. This is what that looks like in the West End.

Every stump is a tree that can't be replaced yet

When a tree is removed in Vancouver, the stump must be ground down before a new tree can be planted. But with 5,500 stumps in the backlog and insufficient funding for removal, these stumps sit for months or years. Each one represents a gap in our urban canopy, a new tree that can't be planted, and a piece of our neighbourhood that's missing.

WhereTheTreesWere documents this reality in the West End. We photograph each stump, map its location, and tell the story of the tree that once stood there. Our goal is simple: make the invisible visible, and build the case for more funding.

Recently documented

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A grassroots documentation project

WhereTheTreesWere is an independent art and advocacy project. We're not affiliated with the City of Vancouver or the Park Board. We're West End residents who walk past these stumps every day and believe the community deserves to see the full picture.

The Park Board knows about the backlog. What they need is public pressure to increase funding for stump removal and replanting. That's where you come in.