: Tree Walk, a group of nature lovers, has written to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan calling for a scientific assessment of health of trees.
In its letter, Tree Walk has sought the Chief Minister’s intervention for creative and scientific ways to not only conserve the city’s green cover but also enhance it.
Healthy trees
Tree Walk said scientific assessment would ensure that trees that were healthy were not axed, and those that needed to be cut were felled.
The letter, which was prepared as part of a signature campaign, urged the government to resume the preparation of health cards for trees, which had been launched in 2014-15 in association with the Kerala Forest Research Institute.
It called for new trees to be planted in place of those that were cut, and setting up of tree guards around them so that they remained safe. It stressed that enough trees should be planted to make up for the loss of every tree cut down.
Trees suited to climate
It also drew the Chief Minister’s attention to the list of 25 trees drawn up by it which were suited to the State’s climate and for being planted by roadsides and avenues.
The letter comes in the wake of the axing of a mahogany tree in front of University College on the ground that it had decayed.
Tree Walk has urged the government to resume the preparation of health cards for trees.
