Environmentalist criticises cutting down of shade trees

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The fully grown up shade trees that were chopped down by City Hall.

KOTA KINABALU: An environmentalist has expressed his disappointment with City Hall for its recent action to chop down several matured and healthy shade trees in Menggatal town.

Dr CY Vun said this action appeared to run contrary to City Hall’s tree-planting and beautification drives as outlined in its 5K program.

It is also a contradiction of the local authorities’ policy to encourage the people to plant as many trees in their respective surroundings, he lamented yesterday.

Vun said he was shocked when he saw several matured and healthy shade trees were chopped down in Menggatal town a few days ago.

Exactly one year ago in September 2013, he said the City Hall also chopped down 20 matured and healthy shade trees in the same town.

“It is really disappointing to learn that City Hall had decided to chop down those trees that were planted by the town’s developer on the islands between those two rows of shop-houses at the Menggatal town some 30 years ago.

“Many people, including local residents, visitors and shop operators, are apparently unhappy with City Hall for its inconsistent attitude in implementing its tree planting program,”stressed Vun.

He reiterated that shop owners, operators, local residents and visitors to Menggatal town had relied on the trees to provide shade and better air ventilation, for years.

“Trees, especially matured and healthy ones, create negative ions-air in the surroundings, cooling the areas so that the public can enjoy the eco-breeze under the shade of the trees.

“Now they are complaining about the sweltering heat from the sun as the trees on the islands in between the shop-houses which served as an ‘umbrella’ or canopy, have been chopped down,”he added.

He said members of the public in Menggatal were claiming that City Hall had failed to properly and continually maintain the shade trees over the years, so the easy way out was to have the trees chopped down.