GEORGE TOWN: Over 240 trees have been felled to make way for two mega projects, sparking a storm of concern over the island’s shrinking green canopy.
Conservationists warned that the cost of progress may be too high, with mature trees – vital to cooling cities and sustaining biodiversity – sacrificed for development projects.
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The trees are part of over 43,000 trees managed by the Penang Island City Council (MBPP).
Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Penang branch adviser D. Kanda Kumar said many countries have moved away from massive highway expansions, in favour of integrated public transport solutions.
“Trees are not just aesthetic features. They provide vital shade, reduce urban heat, filter air pollutants and support wildlife.
“With each tree lost, we lose part of our natural defence against climate change and urban stress,” said Kanda, adding that replanting efforts often fall short, not in number but in quality.
“A hedge or shrub cannot replace the ecological function of a 30-year-old tree,” he said.
Penang infrastructure and transport committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the trees were felled to make way for the Air Itam–Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass and the Penang Hill cable car project.
He said more tree removals are expected once the Light Rail Transit alignment has been finalised, adding that the tree removals are necessary to implement key transport infrastructure aimed at easing congestion and improving connectivity.
“For the Air Itam–Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expessway bypass, the initial proposal by developer Consortium Zenith Construction involved 500 trees.
“But after careful planning and adjustments, only 100 trees were removed,” he said.
On the Penang Hill Cable Car project, Zairil said the Penang Hill Corporation (PHC) and its partner Hartasuma Sdn Bhd have identified 145 trees to be felled.
He said this included 64 trees at the proposed multi-storey car park site, mostly the low-value species and 34 trees at the Garden Station area, previously known as the Economy Park.
He said among the affected species are Bucida buceras (pokok doa), royal palm (Roystonea spp) and oil palm (Elaeis guineensis).
“Only six trees are affected at the Hill Station, primarily African tulip (Spathodea campanulata), while along the cable car alignment and at the turn station location, a total of 41 trees have been identified for potential impact.
He also said tree removal within the forest reserve segment is being carried out in close coordination with the Forestry Department to minimise environmental disruption.
Zairil said in line with PHC and Hartasuma’s commitment to environmental sustainability, a similar number of replacement trees will be planted in suitable nearby areas to compensate for those removed.
He said that to preserve Penang’s green image, MBPP has instructed developers to replace any trees felled during construction.
Meanwhile, state local government committee chairman Jason H’ng Mooi Lye said 43,668 trees have been recorded under the Penang Tree Inventory System (PeTIS), a digital platform used by MBPP to manage urban greenery.
“Among them is a rare baobab tree, estimated to be around 150 years old, in Jalan Macalister. It’s one of the oldest and most iconic trees on the island,” he said.
He added that the inventory also provides insights into the age profile of Penang’s urban trees.
As of now, 446 trees are classified as over-mature, aged between 60 and 100 years, while 3,267 trees fall into the mature category, aged 40 to 60 years.
On the mainland, a total of 147,833 trees have been recorded across the three districts in the first quarter of 2025, according to the latest data from local authorities.
