ISA HK/China --- HK Tree News (Paterson Street Tree Decline)

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Dear Station Members,

The recently sent in HK Tree News included the apparent Tree Decline in Paterson Street in Causeway Bay, in which the Elaeocarpus trees were said to be excessively pruned with part of the root system covered by hoardings. Any Arborist would know this as no good to the trees.

Tree Abuse happened for centuries around the world everywhere, but particularly prominent in under-developed places where trees are regarded lower than slaves. Simple causes include trees are pruned for convenience, & are damaged by lack of respect. This attitude may stem from misunderstanding of the Benefits of Trees to the human society. Sometimes, trees are planted for 'flowering & scent' only. When they don't out of scientific necessities (vegetative phase to reproductive phase), they become neglected. Also when the wrong trees are planted in the wrong places, decline would naturally happen.

ISA HK/China would like to think to stop Tree Abuse form happening, applying the correct education to win heart & mind is more important to frighten the conspirators with threats & penalties. With all the contract requirements & regulations to fine & disgrace the accused in our territory, does Tree Abuse disappear? The answer is apparent enough by looking around.

Then what would be a probable solution to prohibit Tree Mal-practice at large in our territory? A simple way to go about this is to ask every Tree Work over a certain sized tree to be supervised & signed off by a Certified Arborist (CA). If this CA dares to go against international practices, he/she can be complained to ISA Ethics Committee which may re-direct the case to ISA HK/China for investigation. And all CA's in our territory know that the IPA's (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2008/08/isa-hkchina-independent-practicing.html) in ISA HK/China are powerful Testifying Witness to go to Court for justice. This may make the wrong-doers think twice before they dive in blindly for money.

While ISA HK/China looks upon it as our duty to share proper education in Tree Care in our territory, we have never been approached by developers or management association to talk on trees. Most of them know our existence but would not come to us. Over time, this attitude may change as trees are increasingly weighed for in our society, & who can deliver better arboricultural education than ISA right now?

ISA has made some progress in tree education in our territory, & we shall continue to share our knowledge to improve the quality of living with better trees.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

"If a tree is not designed, installed, maintained & inspected properly, it is likely to become a liability rather than an asset."

"Trees are good for the community. Trees need care like human beings. Arborists are the Tree Care Professionals."

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百德新街9樹慘遭斬頂

【明報專訊】政府於2007年高調宣布於銅鑼灣百德新街行人專用區，引入新樹種尖葉杜英，綠化周圍環境；至今不足3年，長春社發現，9棵尖葉杜英遭過度修剪，樹冠餘下不足一半，加上旁邊恆隆中心進行工程，圍板邊緣壓覑泥土，阻礙樹根呼吸。長春社總監蘇國賢批評，「就算種下合適樹種，若缺乏管理及保養，樹木最後仍難逃一死，不符持續發展原則」。

工程圍板壓泥 阻樹根呼吸

康文署發言人表示，恒隆中心事先未知會康文署，該中心工程會影響百德新街的樹木，該署會向恒隆中心發出警告信，並保留追究責任的權利。恒隆發言人強調，恒隆中心外牆更新工程「嚴格遵守屋宇署的相關條例，並已取得正式批文」；又指屋宇署有派員視察，正式批核工程。

路政署07引入圖綠化

路政署於07年10月引入新樹木品種，綠化行人路、天橋及隔音屏障，當中包括在百德新街行人專用區種植9棵尖葉杜英。該署當時表示，過去綠化市區的樹木如細葉榕，根部發達，佔地較廣，對空間有限的市區不太合適，因此引入新樹種。當時路政署的園境師說，「尖葉杜英的型態如高聳的尖塔，開花時有如懸掛了層層白色的流蘇」。

不過，長春社發現，9棵高聳的尖塔最近遭大幅修剪，「有如被斬頭」，部分樹冠餘下不足一半；旁邊的恒隆中心裝修圍板壓覑泥土，阻礙樹根呼吸。蘇國賢指事件反映政府植樹「虎頭蛇尾」，又指「如管理得當，毋須每隔數年更換新樹」。

康文署表示，一向有定期檢查及保養百德新街的尖葉杜英，而去年初發現其中4棵樹木健康未如理想，經盡力護理後亦未有起色。為顧及公眾安全，該署已於去年10月中旬移除已凋萎的樹木，並補種4棵新的尖葉杜英。

該署又聯絡恒隆中心及工程承建商，於上周五實地視察，發現有圍板壓覑4棵尖葉杜英的樹窩，樹冠亦受壓迫，恒隆中心應該署要求移走圍板。該署指會盡力修復及保育該批尖葉杜英。