Mariana Islands Nature Alliance executive director Sam Sablan disclosed that since last year MINA, CUC, DPW the Division of Environmental Quality, Coastal Resource Management and Beautify CNMI have been meeting to discuss the need to cut these trees.
CUC recently cut down some flame trees on Beach Road. There is a public law that authorizes CUC to cut down tree branches that stretch out within 15 feet of power poles.
DPW’s roads and grounds unit have also been cutting flame trees following some accidents caused by falling trees. Some fell on moving vehicles and one even fell on a house.
Although no fatalities have been reported so far, these incidents have caused injuries and damage to properties.
Mindful of the importance of flame trees to the environment as well as their significance in local culture, some residents want to know if cutting them down is really necessary.
CUC and DPW provided answers to this and other questions during recent meetings with environmental agencies and volunteers.
Background information was also provided.
Taking into consideration public safety, it was agreed that there must be a set criteria that has to be met before trees are marked for cutting down.
Agriculturist Isidoro T. Cabrera, in a separate interview, said he has been monitoring trees on island for many years now.
He has identified different diseases that kill flame trees slowly and make them hazardous to the public
One is Phellinus noxious, a fungus that attacks flame trees from the ground.
This is the flame tree’s most dangerous predator, Cabrera said.
After becoming dormant for a long period of time, the fungus comes out through the ground, attacks the roots and gets into the inner part of the tree.
The infected tree looks healthy outside and will continue to bear flowers but it already has a vacuum inside that will continue to widen until the tree collapses.
Termites also attack the trees. Most flame trees cut down by DPW were infested by these insects.
The invasive scarlet gourd that Northern Marianas College-Cooperative Research Extension and Education Services has successfully managed through biological control is another culprit.
Sablan said Cabrera was tasked as the “third party” who will provide his expertise to help them determine which trees need to go as the group reached an agreement “to prioritize areas for immediate action.”
Cabrera said he has already marked seven trees that are sick and unsafe.
He uses orange spray paint to mark them.
Some are in Gualo Rai, some are in Garapan and some are in Susupe.
“Many of these trees have reached the end of their life span and some are infected by fungus and termites. We don’t want them to fall down and cause harm,” Cabrera said.
MINA, Sablan said, wants to save as many as trees possible. But if there is really a dire need to let a tree go, there should be a careful assessment of its condition before it is cut down.
And once this happens, there must be a replacement for each tree that is cut down.
Suggestions
Here are some suggestions from agencies and community groups:
• There should be an alternative action plan.
• Priority areas where unhealthy trees need to be removed must be identified.
• Provide public awareness on tree planting and type of trees to plant.
• Give people a chance to have a stake on the matter.
• Have tree-planting done in phases and require permits for tree planting so individuals doing the tree planting can factor in power poles installation prior to digging.
