Victoria's trademark cherry blossoms may be lost in a few years as the city goes ahead with a plan to replace aging non-native trees with native species. On Thursday the city council approved an increase of $868,000 in its Urban Forest Master Plan, which Coun. "Our non-native trees, including some of the cherry blossom trees, are some of the most stressed as a result of climate change." Laurel Collins said she hopes the city can both protect the cherry trees and increase canopy cover. "The wonderful thing about our cherry trees is that there's a history in Victoria where the Japanese community actually fundraised and donated these trees," she said.

Source: thestar February 24, 2019 00:33 UTC