-
.
- Ελληνικά
Following the recent announcement of the Movement of Ecologists - Citizens' Co-operation, as well as the recent publications of various media, the Forestry Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment wishes to report the following:
a) The pruning of eucalyptus trees in the area of Ayios Tychonas, Limassol, has been carried out on the instructions of the community council following damage to standing trees caused by bad weather. The damage involved the breaking of branches, which were a danger to the passing public.
b) The pruning was carried out after our Department was notified and an officer carried out a site visit. The site visit revealed that no permit was required as this was to be done primarily for the removal of branches which posed a risk of causing an accident but also for the care or renewal of the trees. It is also stated that eucalyptus is a species that can be pruned not only for maintenance purposes but also for the purpose of shaping its crown, especially when it does not grow in natural areas but in urban areas where there is a risk of accidents, as in this case. The very fact that branches have been broken by bad weather proves that this practice is correct. Trees in urban environments can, and in some cases must, be handled.
c) Regarding the suggestion of the Ecology - Citizens' Movement for a review of the procedures followed with deep pruning in urban areas, we report that, these are documented and updated and that regardless of the above provisions of the legislation, the Forestry Department since 2011, both itself and in the permits it grants, has limited to the absolutely necessary the cases of cutting off the top of the tree trunk or mortification and promotes soft pruning. In addition, as far as possible, trained forestry officials supervise the pruning of rows of trees or large stands of trees for which a licence is granted. In addition, the Forestry Department, when requested or informed of the intention to prune trees of forest species, even if a permit is not required, provides advice on how to prune them.
d) Finally, it is noted that the Forestry Department, in its efforts to further improve the provision of assistance, has prepared a Guide to Pruning Forest Trees, which will be published very soon.
(NΓ/IK)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
