Urban tree falls to be studied for links with climate change, says Nik Nazmi

KLANG: A holistic approach will be taken to address the danger of falling trees in cities across the country and its possible connection to climate change, says Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (pic).

The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister said research into the sudden surge of falling trees would be conducted immediately and involve the Forestry Department.

"While local authorities have their own guidelines, we will have to look at the issue as a whole along with the department for feedback.

"While different people may have different views on the need to fell overgrown trees, the issue of the people's safety must be prioritised.

"Ideally we want to preserve as many trees as possible as it takes many years to replace one but if it causes harm, then steps must be taken," he said after launching the Alam Be-Leaf Mangrove Planting Programme 2024 here on Sunday (May 12).

Nik Nazmi also acknowledged the possibility of climate change playing a part in the recent uptick in trees falling in urban areas around the country.

"There is a chance that changing weather patterns could also play a part in this issue which we will have to seriously look into.

"While the connection between the two is still relatively unknown for now, we cannot disregard the possibility," he added.

On Tuesday (May 7), a large 50-year-old tree fell on Jalan Sultan Ismail in Kuala Lumpur after a sudden heavy downpour, resulting in the death of one man and injuring two others while damaging 17 vehicles and disrupting monorail services.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL)-appointed certified arborists had since identified 28 other trees in the city as high-risk in its latest periodic inspection and these were expected to be felled soon.

Meanwhile, Penang was also hit with near-daily reports of falling trees injuring people or destroying property recently as extreme hot weather and then heavy rain affected the state.

This included an 80-year-old man being injured after a tree fell on him on Wednesday (May 8) at the Penang Botanic Gardens while another massive tree fell across Jalan Macalister in Georgetown on Saturday (May 11), badly damaging five cars.