GEORGE NEWS - Local environmental activist Monica Vaccaro of the Landmark Foundation has shared her concern regarding tree planting and management in George.

She calls for more careful development where existing trees are preserved rather than replaced with young trees as compensation, and for more trees in general to be planted to ensure that the city's tree canopy grows instead of dwindles.

Reacting to the felling of a large old eucalyptus tree in a paved parking lot in Gloucester Avenue earlier this month, she said older trees provide exponentially more

ecosystem services. "They store more carbon and support esta-blished habitats. Losing mature trees when it can be prevented would be a serious environmental misstep," says Vaccaro.

She is concerned about a number of trees that should soon be lost to the expansion of an existing parking lot in George, for which the George Municipality (GM) has received an application. 

She says parking lots are mostly bare, hard surfaces and she calls for a more environmentally friendly approach. "Their design should reflect an awareness of the impacts of climate change and the need for reduction of carbon in the atmosphere. 

"In George are ample examples of older trees in parking lots that are not reaching their full potential, and it has to do with adequate feeding, watering and space for their roots. Some of these trees should have been much bigger and lusher by now, given their age."

The GM sets certain conditions for tree planting when approving certain developments, and the newspaper wanted to know what these requirements are, and if compliance is checked once a development is completed.

Communications manager Chantèl Edwards said in terms of the George Tree Management Policy, the Parks and Recreation Section's responsibility excludes trees growing on private property unless they impact public places or public open spaces. 

"Certain land use applications require the submission of a landscaping plan. The municipality may also require developers to demonstrate the incorporation of urban greening as guided by the integrated development plan [IDP] and municipal spatial development framework [MSDF]. 

"But although the GM sets conditions for tree planting in new developments, compliance monitoring is not routinely done on private land. 

"Parks and Recreation will only advise private developers when consulted and actively monitors compliance only where trees on municipal property or sidewalks are affected. 

"Where municipal trees are removed to make way for approved developments, the municipality requires that replacement trees be planted and ensures their ongoing maintenance."

The base of the eucalyptus that was chopped down.

Large eucalyptus chopped down in parking lot

A large eucalyptus tree was recently chopped down in a parking lot at Mediclinic George, which elicited sharp criticism on social media.

Mediclinic George's general manager, Celesté Louw, explained that the decision was made only after thorough consideration and in response to a formal written request from the neighbouring homeowners' association that had concerns about the tree's potential risk to nearby homes. 

She said Mediclinic undertook a diligent process to assess the situation, engaging two independent experts whose assessments confirmed a tangible risk, particularly during adverse weather. "Throughout this period, we also conducted ongoing monitoring for any bird activity and confirmed that the tree was not supporting any nests."

Louw said a reputable tree removal company had carried out the removal, while safeguarding neighbours and Mediclinic staff who use the parking area. She stressed that Mediclinic was not involved in the removal of any trees in surrounding areas, referring to another gum that had been removed from an adjacent property in September last year.

Non-indigenous vs indigenous

Dr Arne Witt, international environmental expert from Wilderness, says non-indigenous trees may offer some bird nesting sites, but it is indigenous plants that provide vital food for birds and many other life forms.

Native plants support a wide range of plant-eating insects, which in turn feed other species. These insects are mostly absent from exotic plants, which is why many introduced species become invasive. Gardens dominated by non-indigenous plants have fewer insects and significantly lower insect diversity and abundance.

85 gum tree species

According to Debbie Muir, a biodiversity officer at the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, out of the 85 gum tree species present in South Africa, six are invasive, and there are various factors to consider when deciding on whether a gum must be removed or not.

According to the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (Nemba), non-invasive urban area gum trees with a trunk diameter of 400mm (at a height of 1m) do not need to be removed. Only those growing within a riparian area or in environmentally protected areas must be felled.

Gums contribute 50% of South Africa's honey production.

‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’