Save, retain, and maintain Naga trees
Like people, trees are living creatures. Trees also have a doctor, a specialist who can assess whether these are healthy or not.
Dr. Ernesto Militante, a retired Professor of the University of the Philippines in Los Banos, is a tree doctor, a tree pathologist. Last Monday, October 21, even on very short notice, he speedily came to Cebu to assess the Naga trees scheduled for cutting by the DPWH, on a permit given by CENRO-Argao. “Serbisyo po ito,” he said.
For his methodology, he directly and closely examined damaged/insured trees, including their abnormalities and he described and had photo documentation of the trees showing indicators for growth, development, and mortality.
Dr. Militante assessed a total of 28 trees – 19 acacia, two sampalok, one mahogany, one rimas, one mango, and four yemane.
He findings showed the following tree abnormalities, damage and injuries: a) burl- the trees grew in deformed manner due to stress that may have been caused by injury or microorganisms, b) strangling –the tree is choked by a material wrapped around it, intentionally or accidentally, c) cavities – hollow in tree’s branches or trunk due to natural causes or insects, d) injuries or tree wounds, e) dead branches or top heavy branches, which stress the trees and which may snap and pose danger or hazard, and, f) poor growth and dead trees due to lack of maintenance or neglect. Girdling is another problem where a strip of a tree’s bark is removed which kills the parts above.
Dr. Militante had two major recommendations. The first is to save, retain, and maintain 21 trees through the following methods: 1) remove concrete a foot around tree base, 2) prune top heavy and dead branches, 3) treat pruning wounds, 4) monitor rehabilitated trees, 5) conduct surgery, and 6) Install warning signs, especially for century-old trees.
He strongly recommended that century old trees should be preserved, not cut, for their cultural, historical value and their continuing invaluable contribution to our people and planet- providing oxygen, taking in carbon dioxide, controlling flood, as destressors, shade and more. If properly maintained and cared for, Dr. Militante said acacias can live as long as 3,000 years!
Because of road widening, a number of these century old acacia trees are now situated in the middle of the road and considered hazardous to motorists. Dr. Militante said no accident can happen if proper signs are placed, including appropriate lights in the evening, alerting the motorists to go slow as they are approaching the historical trees. Other countries have done these for their centuries-old trees.
His second recommendation is to cut seven trees- the dead, weak and stunted trees and those rendered hazardous after the roads have been widened. Dr. Militante stressed that all these cut trees must be replaced immediately.
Among these trees are an acacia that is dead or another, too damaged and hazardous, on the road. Mahogany and sampalok trees left in the middle of the road due to widening that are hazardous to motorists should be cut. So should the gemelina trees with poor growth and on the road.
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