INSPECTION OF TREES

INSPECTION OF TREES

24.

Er Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for National Development in view of the recent heavy rainfall (a) what is the Ministry doing to check on old trees to ensure that they are not a danger to the public; and (b) how are such checks conducted.

Mr Mah Bow Tan: The National Parks Board (NParks) regularly inspects its trees for signs of poor condition, disease, pests or structural defects. It also carries out regular tree pruning and replacement. Particular attention is paid to the larger mature trees, especially those in areas with high vehicular traffic. Mature trees along expressways and major roads are inspected once every 12 months and 18 months respectively.

Given the recent adverse weather, NParks has intensified its tree inspection and pruning efforts. Since May this year, over and above a monthly inspection of 15,000 trees, NParks has inspected another 3,200 large mature trees in areas with high vehicular traffic. It has also carried out pruning and crown reduction to reduce the weight of the foliage and enhance the stability of these trees during rainstorms. NParks will continue with this intensified tree inspection and pruning regime.

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Tree inspection involves two major steps. Firstly, NParks' qualified arborists conduct a visual assessment of the crown, branches, trunk, surface roots and site condition. Secondly, sophisticated instruments are used to help detect internal cavity/decay in trees. NParks captures the information gathered at these inspections and uses it for monitoring of the tree conditions over time.

Apart from stepping up tree inspection, NParks is also progressively replacing our roadside trees with hardy species as part of its ongoing Streetscape Greenery Master Plan.

Even with these efforts, it is not possible to guard against all tree failures, as healthy trees can also be affected by gusty winds and heavy rainfall. NParks will continue to do its best to minimise risks of tree failures. It is currently reviewing its tree management programme in response to increasingly unpredictable weather conditions. This includes exploring new technology to better assess the condition of trees.

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