Ecologists shared their views on the pruning of plane trees in central Mykolaiv (video).

Ecologists shared their views on the pruning of plane trees in the center of Mykolaiv (video)

According to dendrologists and ecologists, the pruning of the plane trees was carried out with serious violations leading to the destruction of the trees.

A video featuring commentary from specialists was published on social activist Dmitry Ryabchenko's Facebook page.

The activists received comments from: Diana Krysins'ka - ecologist, PhD in ecological safety, and teacher at the Department of Ecology at the Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University, and Inna Timchenko – associate professor at the Department of Horticulture and an eco-activist.

Diana Krysins'ka believes that plane trees are perfectly suited for the climate in Mykolaiv region and are very undemanding trees, thus they do not require such drastic pruning. The ecologist emphasized that it would have been sufficient to simply cut off the dry branches rather than removing live branches that have been forming for decades. Additionally, Diana Krysins'ka listed a number of violations committed by the specialists of the communal enterprise "Mykolaiv Parks" during the pruning process. She noted that the trees have never interfered with the residents and have only provided benefits by shielding them from the scorching sun during hot summer days. However, in her opinion, after such pruning, the tree will slowly die and eventually become hazardous.

- I believe there is a gross violation of the current environmental legislation. A breach of landscaping rules that are in effect in Ukraine. What we observe is that the people conducting this pruning, that is, the specialists, cannot present the necessary documents; they show us some unclear schedule. When discussing with them what type of pruning they are performing, since pruning can be of three types: formative, rejuvenating, and sanitary. Their schedule does not clearly indicate which type of pruning they are conducting. There are no legally sanctioned reasons for conducting formative pruning with this type of trees, considering their condition, only sanitary pruning may be performed. When asked if this is a formative pruning of the trees, how much of the crown they have removed, the dendrologist with 50 years of experience answers – 30%. This is a serious violation of the implementation of formative pruning. Such pruning can only be conducted under certain indications. If the trees are sick, with a dried crown. Every Mykolaiv resident passing by can see – these trees are not dried. When asked how many growth points they leave on the branch, the dendrologist did not provide a clear answer. They should count this before starting to prune the branches. But no one is counting. So, they left, excuse me, stumps. This is like if you had a cough and went to the doctor, and he said – 'let's cut off 1/3 of your lung, I think that will help you.' Another violation of the rules and procedures for dealing with green spaces. After the pruning, specialists apply a protective coating to the cut, but they do it on a wet surface. That is, immediately after cutting the branch, they apply the protective varnish. This is a serious violation. It should be done on a dry cut. That is, after a certain time, a team should come and ascend to perform this procedure. Moreover, conducting this type of pruning at this time of year is absurd - in a few days, the temperature will be -1. What we see and what will happen to these trees, which they have already worked on. It does not take a whole decade. These trees have lost their aerodynamic stability, - explained Diana Krysins'ka.

In turn, Inna Timchenko stated that such pruning will hasten the trees' demise.

- In my opinion, what is happening now with the plane trees is accelerating their death. They could have lived for many more years. But they are now being pruned in such a way that the tree stops growing and developing, gradually dying off. This is done intentionally, and I am confident that everyone involved knows that this tree will not survive for long. Because they are cutting branches to the point of stopping their growth. Subsequently, these branches may sprout new shoots, which we will see, but this will not form a crown. This will weaken the tree, - said Inna Timchenko.

On the morning of Wednesday, January 8, workers from the communal enterprise "Mykolaiv Parks" resumed tree pruning on Soborna Street in Mykolaiv. Police officers, representatives from the State Ecological Inspectorate of the Southwestern Region, and the director of the enterprise, Dmitry Chuchmay, arrived at the scene. The police halted the tree pruning work.