Waste introduced into this red acacia, located for more than 30 years in Commune 5, contributed to its rotting process and subsequent collapse.
- According to the environmental authority of Cali, disposing waste next to trees makes them susceptible to attack by fungi and bacteria and, in the future, may cause them to overturn.
- Nails and screws driven in to install signs, cameras and other elements also affect the health of trees.
- Despite the apparent good phytosanitary status of a tree, only with tomographic examinations can the damage caused by poor environmental practices be evidenced.
- Report bad environmental practices, such as felling or cutting branches, by calling 602 524 05 80, extension 4, or on WhatsApp 313 780 75 32.
Santiago de Cali, June 6, 2024
Bad environmental practices such as pruning carried out by people without experience in the subject; injuries caused by the installation of advertisements; and planting in unsuitable locations, among others, create the conditions for some 25 trees to collapse every month in Santiago de Cali, even more so now with the arrival of the La Niña phenomenon.
Added to the above are machete attacks during illegal and anti-technical pruning; and installing cameras, mirrors and signs on trees using screws and nails. According to phytosanitary evaluations carried out by professionals from the Urban Flora Management group, of the Administrative Department of Environmental Management (Dagma), these situations generate that species like chiminangos and acacias suffer from falling branches and overturning, as they are affected by fungal and bacterial attacks.
A recent example of bad behavior with Cali’s trees is the one that led to the overturning of a red acacia, of the species delonix regialocated in the 1st avenue and 62nd street. After the phytosanitary inspection, a localized rot process was identified, stimulated by the throwing of waste that some citizens made through a small opening located in the stem, which generated the proliferation of the fungus (ganoderma) and the consequent collapse of the tree.
“Trees have a great capacity for resilience and, in most cases, can control this type of damage, encapsulating the affected area and depriving the fungus that attacks it of oxygen. In this case, some people had taken the individual’s wound as a place to dispose of waste, which surely affected his chance of recovery, resulting in the loss of a tree that was more than 30 years old.“explained engineer Jorge López, leader of the Urban Flora group of the Dagma.
The environmental authority of Cali also alerts citizens about the effects that inadequate management of Construction and Demolition Waste can cause (RCD) in the Cali trees. According to Flora Urbana experts, metal dust from cement and other materials used in construction has the ability to change the ionic exchange of the soil, making it difficult for trees to capture nutrients.
Trees are living beings and when screwing or nailing an element into them, foreign elements are introduced into their vascular system that, depending on many variables, can result in catastrophic damage by fungi and/or bacteria.
The Administrative Department of Environmental Management invites Caleños and visitors to enjoy the eco-systemic services provided by the more 382 thousand trees from Santiago de Cali. Report bad environmental practices, such as felling or cutting branches, by phone 602 524 05 80extension 4, or on the WhatsApp line 313 780 75 32.
A data
The Arboreal Medical Unit of the Dagma It has sonic tomography equipment and a root scanner for the diagnosis of urban trees. This technology allows specialist technicians to generate diagnostic images, which provide information for making correct decisions in the management of trees at risk.
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