By Aida Aziz
Pix Google
IPOH: Trees that are aged and considered high-risk in the city of Ipoh have been continuously monitored and felled since last year.
The Mayor of Ipoh, Datuk Rumaizi Baharin, stated that the Ipoh City Council (MBI) has also sent architects from the Landscape Division to attend courses related to arborists (tree doctors).
“We indeed send MBI landscape architects to arborist courses to understand and learn techniques related to this matter.
“In fact, MBI has conducted studies and maintained these trees since 2021. So far, high-risk trees have been continuously monitored and given necessary care as appropriate since last year.
“The trees that fell in several areas recently in Ipoh due to rain were not classified as high-risk,” he said.
He stated this during a press conference after chairing the Full Council Meeting for May here today.
Furthermore, Rumaizi emphasized the importance of balancing the significance of large trees with the need for felling.
This is because, according to him, the greenery provided by large trees is crucial for the natural environment.
“High-risk trees are indeed completely felled, but at the same time, we need to balance between risk and greenery.
“Large trees have a high carbon absorption rate, and if we cut them all down, Ipoh will become hotter,” he said.
Previously, the media reported that the Minister of Development and Local Government, Nga Kor Ming, recommended that local authorities (PBT) have tree doctors or arborists in their service.
This is to improve landscape management in each municipal area.
Recently, the country was shocked by incidents of large trees falling in the capital and several other states, causing deaths and injuries to road users.
