Procedures for Conservation of Trees in Designated Areas

Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng asked the Minister for National Development (a) what procedures apply under the Parks and Trees Act to conserve trees in designated tree conservation areas; (b) what is the purpose of engaging the services of a professional arborist before mature trees may be removed from private homes; and (c) whether there is still a need to procure arborist services if there is evidence that the trees are diseased or potentially causing safety issues to dwellers or passers-by.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: Under the Parks and Trees Act, all trees with a girth size of more than one metre within the designated Tree Conservation Areas can only be removed with the approval of the Commissioner of Parks and Recreation of the National Parks Board (NParks). The intent is to prevent the indiscriminate felling of trees in these areas and protect them for the enjoyment of our future generations.

In seeking approval to remove a protected tree in a Tree Conservation Area, the private home owner has to provide evidence to show that the tree is dead, dying, or poses an immediate threat or danger to life or property. The owner can do so via a written request to NParks with detailed descriptions of the condition of the tree and photographs. A tree that displays symptoms of pest attacks or defects might still be structurally sound and need not be felled. NParks will assess the request and, if the evidence provided by the owner is inconclusive, NParks would advise the owner to engage a professional arborist to ascertain the health and structural integrity of the tree.

A professional arborist is a specialist in the care of trees and is trained to assess the health and structural integrity of a tree through visual inspection and the use of instruments. He would then recommend the appropriate treatment for the tree, including an assessment on whether the tree can be retained or needs to be felled.

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