Stringent checks for trees are in place to mitigate risks due to unpredictable weather: NParks
Published 50 min ago
Updated 9 min ago
Samantha Boh
SINGAPORE - The inspection of trees in Singapore are in line with global standards, said National Parks Board (NParks) on Wednesday (Feb 15) in the wake of two separate incidents involving fallen trees.
Trees at high traffic sites, such as expressways and major roads, are inspected once every six to 12 months, more frequent than the International Society of Arboriculture's (ISA) guideline of 'high-risk' sites once every one to two years.
The 40m-tall tembusu heritage tree which collapsed last Saturday killing one was also inspected twice a year as it was located in an area with high human traffic, more frequently than most heritage trees which are inspected annually.
High human traffic on a tree's root zone could cause the soil to become compacted, and impede its the growth of its roots, said Mr Oh Cheow Sheng, group director of Streetscape at NParks, at a media briefing held at the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
The tembusu tree killed Indian national Radhika Angara, 38, after it collapsed, bringing down nearby palm trees along with it. Her French husband, Mr Jerome Rouch-Sirech, 39, and their one-year-old twin children - a boy and a girl - were also injured. A Singaporean woman, Ms Tay Pei Lei, 26, was also hurt.
A tree that fell in a Yuan Ching Road carpark on Monday sent a woman, Ms Cher Hwee Hwang, 48, to the Intensive Care Unit.
NParks however said it could not comment on what cause it to fall as investigations were ongoing.
Giving a run through of NParks' inspection regime Mr Oh said inspections starts off with 'first level' visual checks where things like leaf-shedding and slanted trunks are looked out for and assessed.
If the arborist conducting the checks suspects internal decay, a 'second level' check where diagnostic tools such as a resistograph and sonic tomographs are used to confirm if this is so.
A resistograph is a tool used to drill into the tree's trunk. The resistance the drill meets is an indication of whether there is decay - decayed wood would offer less resistance.
A sonic tomography measures the speed sound travels through the wood. Sound travels slower through decayed wood than healthy wood.
The agency has assured the public that it has a comprehensive tree management programme that is also designed to cope with unpredictable and severe weather conditions.
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http://www.straitstimes.com/singapor...ctable-weather
Then why are tress still falling down ?
