THERE is a new strange disease infiltrating our ‘leafy’ suburbs.
According to Jean Lindsay of the New Germany Conservancy, residents are now considering leaves as litter, dirt and pollution and to solve this problem, they are ring barking council trees on the verges.
Five trees have been ring barked in Garden Crescent in New Germany, two in Pinetown and more in Sarnia, Mariannhill and Heaton Nichols roads.
She said the municipality has planted more than 136 000 trees in the past three years to mitigate the impacts of climate change, and in a month, residents have destroyed at least 15 mature trees.
Some of the trees ring barked include indigenous trees and the rest exotic trees but not alien invasive.
“It saddens me deeply to witness the desecration of our natural heritage, most of these trees were older than 50 years,” said Lindsay.
She argued that trees on verges do not belong to residents, they are council property.
“Those guilty of ring barking trees can be charged for damage to council property and according to the bylaws, may even be liable to pay a fine,” said Lindsay.
She said residents have a strange thinking that leaves from trees are considered dirt, litter and
pollution, but these leaves protect the soil in winter and can also be swept up and made into useful compost for gardens.
“Provided you have a good reason, for example, the trees have become a security risk for you or the tree is lifting up your driveway, then you can report the matter to the Parks Department, who will consider removing the tree,” said Lindsay.
She urged residents to refrain from ring barking trees in Pinetown, or they will face the full wrath of the law.
