ISA HK/China --- Public Tree Board

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Dear Station Members,

The following local news on Tree Felling has become all familiar in the past few years in HK. The public was again challenging Govt Depts for Tree Felling, & demanded an explanation for the action. Social harmony appears to be disturbed.

The solution to this repeated accusation can be simple. Set up a Public Tree Board (PTB) for future incidents to answer all. Many municipalities in western countries would have this body to respond to the public. It is nothing new around the world.

The PTB can comprise the Tree Management Office, the Politicians, the Media & the Technical Experts, like ISA HK/China. ISA HK/China now runs the largest group of Arborists in our territory of HK, Macau, Taiwan & China. We are the genuine Tree Care Professionals, & we follow the ISA Mission of promoting proper Arboriculture & benefits of trees. We do not attack but give facts with research & experience. And best of all, we run ourselves without financial sponsorship.

PTB must consist of the right professionals. For if bringing in horticulturists, designers or turf managers without proper training in Arboriculture would put up the wrong show. PTB may become another target practice.

One good thing to set up the PTB would be to elevate the quality of Tree Assessment in HK. Any case brought forward will no doubt be scrutinized by the experts in the PTB. ISA HK/China will provide our unbiased opinions on technical matters only, & we shall be Fact-finding & Truth-telling, in line with our Station Principles. If we see it as the fault of our Certified Arborist(s), we shall say so without prejudice, & discipline the concerned . This will upgrade the practicing standard in HK.

All we can see if there is any opposition to set up the PTB, would be from those who are afraid for their work to be exposed. They may be closing in to China too soon. If a tree is felled correctly, what's the fear? ISA HK/China will support it with our knowledge & experience. We shall state the facts & answer the consequences. There is really nothing to worry about for the proper work.

What's left now is for all those who are concerned to think about setting up the PTB. We believe it is beneficial, & the PTB will harmonize our society. For what's good is it for a place to live in, with risky trees potently to fall over your head? We here provide our opinion, & this Station Mail is copied to all we know in the media, politicians & public for their consideration.

May the idea of PTB be supported to promote good Tree Planting in HK.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager
Registered Consulting Arborist no. RCA#497


"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."


康文署怕孭鑊 好樹斬無赦

近年發生多宗塌樹傷人事故，政府部門頓變驚弓之鳥，擺出高姿態巡查全港樹木以示關注。不過，有市民卻發現當局在渣甸山多處大舉斬木，無論健康與否均一律「斬無赦」。相關部門卻以被斬樹木健康欠佳為由，堅持移除屬唯一保障公眾方法，但立法會議員卻質疑現有做法透明度欠奉，狠批當局以「斬腳趾避沙蟲」方式處之，令樹木死無對證。

陳淑莊質疑指有關斜坡被斬樹木並非個別事件，對當局處理樹木手法深表質疑。

早前的一個清晨，居於渣甸山已逾十年的阿倩（化名）如常在家居附近散步，行經白建時道時赫然發現有三棵年近半百、一直完好無損的老樹無端失蹤，「棵棵樹都好大好靚，點解無端端會畀人斬咗？」阿倩又指，在大樹消失前一直未見有任何告示通知附近居民有關安排，不滿當局做法鬼祟，對樹木存活「零交代」。

康樂及文化事務署發言人解釋，上述樹木由該署負責護養，並非古樹名木，因發現健康狀況欠佳、復原機會極微，經「保護樹木審核委員會」批准後移除，已貼告示通知市民。「吓？我日日行過唔覺佢哋有斜有爛，又唔見有告示，點樣有倒塌危機先？」阿倩對有關解釋極度不滿，質疑當局只為免「出事」胡亂斬樹。

立法會民政事務委員會委員陳淑莊曾到場視察，發現巨木「遺址」已補種小樹苗，與旁邊茂密林木成強烈對比。除上址出現疑似亂斬樹情況外，陳更驚見整個渣甸山「滿目瘡痍」，不少樹木均被斬，只剩一個個直徑半米的樹腳，「畀人感覺係『唔想冧樹壓死人？冇樹咪唔會冧囉！』啲木點枯法、幾時斬、有冇諮詢同通告向公眾交代？」

就現場所見，其他被斬樹木分別由建築署、康文署及路政署負責護養，三署發言人均強調，早已發現涉事樹木健康狀況欠佳，如樹幹受真菌感染，樹根腐爛等，經詳細檢查後認為移除樹木乃最佳處理方法，以確保公眾人士安全。

白建時道三棵大樹屹立經年，早前突被移除。

畢拉山道樹木被斬僅留下「殘骸」。

護理欠善 惡性循環

「依家死無對證，講乜都得㗎啦！如果真係救唔番要斬，即係當初護理出問題，根本係惡性循環！」陳淑莊直斥當局護理樹木欠善，令樹木健康受損難逃被斬厄運，又狠批當局對於樹木護理透明度不足，促當局檢討檢驗機制，提高透明度公開資料，以示對護養樹木的承擔，「交番個『驗屍報告』出嚟，就算斬錯咗都有得跟，咁政府就唔敢亂斬！」

真菌感染未必須斬樹

香港大學地理系講座教授詹志勇指出，樹木受真菌感染情況非常普遍，病樹是否必須斬去，主要取決於樹木的腐爛程度，如樹幹傾斜度、樹根有否令地面裂開、樹幹腐爛面積等多個因素，故認為當局對斬樹概以受真菌感染作解釋，理據並不充分。詹又指政府外判樹木護理承辦商質素參差，令樹木欠缺適切護理，認為當局應加強監管，及提高對樹木護理的透明度，還公眾一個知情權，「棵樹點解要斬，爛到咩程度，政府都好應該公開！」