Chua Sis worries about falling trees when she drives

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ST Editor worries about falling trees when she drives


August 4th, 2013 | Author: Editorial





(ST ILLUSTRATION)


The Straits Times Opinion Editor, Chua Mui Hoong, has written an interesting
opinion piece in Sunday Times today (‘Risking falling trees for roti prata’, 4
Aug).

Ms Chua said that choosing to live near tree-lined roads means having to
grapple with “Falling Tree Anxiety”.

She said, “I often choose my abode allowing for proximity to greenery. Better
still if it offers a full frontal view of foliage. In my current apartment, I
spend many idle moments just gazing into trees.”

However, as reports of falling trees damaging cars and hurting people appear
more often lately, Ms Chua is getting anxious.

She said that she lives in an area surrounded by big trees. Sometimes, when
she drives along Upper Thomson Road which is lined with big, leafy trees, she
wonders if the trees will fall.

She asked, “Would I have to risk injury to car, self and passengers,
daily?”

She added, “Maybe I’m a little paranoid. But I do think falling trees must be
taken seriously in a city as green and as densely-packed as Singapore.”

She even sent pictures of trees in her neighbourhood to NParks for
verification if they were the sort that easily decay.

“The scaredy cat that I am – and as a good journalist – I asked NParks about
the trees in my neighbourhood and sent them pictures of the said trees to be
identified,” she said.

“It turned out my fears were unfounded. Those trees are not the dreaded
Albizia, but are rain trees, which are known to be hardier.”

She then wrote to NParks to ask if it has a robust tree management
programme.

NParks replied:


“Mature trees along expressways and major roads are inspected at least once
in 12 months, an improvement over once in 18 months previously. Our frequency of
tree inspections is in line with the Best Management Practices of the
International Society of Arboriculture. In addition, big trees with dense crowns
are also given crown reduction to reduce the weight of the crowns and to enhance
the trees’ stability during rainstorms.”

“The trees along Upper Thomson Road are subjected to the same stringent level
of care as the ones along all major roads, and are inspected once every year.
The intensified regime has shown results: in 2000, there were 3,100 incidents of
branch breakage and tree uprooting; this has been brought down to 1,050 in
2012.”

“More than 200 staff are involved in tree management. On average, each staff
inspects a few hundred trees every month.”
After hearing NParks’ reply, Ms Chua concluded that the risk of falling trees
damaging people was not yet at the crisis stage.

“But even the best maintenance programme can’t prevent trees from being
uprooted in a storm. And since I chose to live in a tree-lined area, I may just
have to live with the risk of falling branches and trees,” she said.

“I came up with this rule of thumb: Driving out for my prata and Ampang yong
tau foo should be safe most days. And stormy days too. Keep my fingers
crossed.”

While Ms Chua drives out for her favourite prata or Ampang yong tau foo,
worrying about falling trees, the majority* of Singaporeans are struggling,
worrying about the cost of living or their next
meal.

* 55% of employed Singaporeans earn $20,000 or
less a year (‘60% Of You Think You Have A Good Job? Really?‘).


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