Trees in the woods withe light streaming in

Park Board begins final phase of Hemlock Looper mitigation work in Stanley Park

January 12 2026 –

The third and final phase to address high-risk trees in Stanley Park impacted by the hemlock looper is beginning on January 13, 2026. The hemlock looper insect experiences population outbreaks roughly every 15 years, however the most recent outbreak resulted in significant tree mortality in the park causing an elevated risk to public safety.

The Phase III work approved by the Board  (108 KB) will include tree removals in Q1 and Q4 of 2026, with restoration work to take place in the spring of 2026 and 2027.

Work in this last phase will focus on mitigating risk to the public from hemlock looper-affected trees adjacent to trails in the interior of the park, including Lees Trail, Lovers Walk, Tatlow Trail and the trails around Beaver Lake. Periodic trail closures will be in effect as the work progresses. A limited number of hazardous trees outside this area will also be treated.

“Managing and mitigating this issue has been paramount for us as we work to fulfil our commitment to the safety and well-being of Stanley Park and its visitors,” said Park Board Chair Tom Digby. “It is also an opportunity for us to plant a variety of species to create a more resilient Stanley Park that can stand up to future challenges.”

Work to date 

Across all phases of the work so far approximately 11,000 dead or dying trees were removed due to their risks to public safety.   
The majority of trees removed thus far were western hemlock and a smaller number of Douglas fir and western red cedar were also affected. Any cultural wood generated was distributed to interested local Nations and used for longhouse and ceremonial use. In addition, hemlock logs from the log sort were provided to Tsleil-Waututh Nation to build rain gardens at Whey-ah-Wichen (Cates Park). Park Board staff also supported planting events in Stanley Park with Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. 

58% of Stanley Park’s forested areas affected by the looper infestation have now been treated and planted. In addition, over 54,000 new seedlings of diverse species have been planted, supported through a 3-year donation from Western Forest Products.

Media contact:

Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation
[email protected]

Learn More: 

To learn more about the Stanley Park forest management, visit: https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/stanley-park-forest-management.aspx

To learn more about the Stanley Park Hemlock Looper Impact and Wildfire Risk Assessment, visit: https://vancouver.ca/files/cov/stanley-park-hemlock-looper-report.pdf (4.2 MB)

To learn more about hemlock looper, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/forestry/managing-our-forest-resources/forest-health/forest-pests/defoliators/western-hemlock-looper