'Heat shock' blamed as trees die in HCMC

By Dinh Van   June 7, 2024 | 03:24 pm PT
More than 100 trees on streets across Thu Duc City and Go Vap and Binh Tan districts in HCMC have suddenly died, many from "heat shock."

On Thursday afternoon, on Pham Van Dong Boulevard in Thu Duc City, many trees aged 10-12 years old and standing nearly five meters tall could be seen dried up and dead.

Their leaves were gone, and they were left with bare branches with their trunks showing signs of damage with cracks and peeling bark.

Two kilometers away, around 40 trees that had stood three meters tall along the rail tracks on Luong Ngoc Quyen Street in Go Vap District were also dead.

Dozens of camphor trees on Tran Van Giau Street in Go Vap are gradually dying. Many have dried leaves and appear lifeless.

A representative of the HCMC Greenery Parks Co. Ltd. said 47 trees along Pham Van Dong Street had suffered from "heat shock" and dried to death.

Eight others on the street, all two to three meters tall, are showing signs of weakening and are being monitored and treated, he/she said.

The trees on Pham Van Dong Street are chukrasia tabularis, which "have broad canopies and fast-growing roots, and are safe for urban planting."

But they have lower heat resistance than many other species, and are prone to dehydration and leaf burn during prolonged heatwaves.

The cause of death of trees on other streets has not been identified.

The company will report to the HCMC Department of Construction for analyzing, cutting down and replacing the dead trees.

Hai cây long ngã cao khoảng 5 m bị cháy lá, chết khô trên đường Trần Văn Giàu giữa những cây khác còn xanh tốt. Ảnh: Đình Văn

A tree is seen drying up on Tran Van Giau Street, June 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Dinh Van

But Dang Van Ha, director of the Institute of Landscape Architecture and Urban Greenery at the Vietnam National University of Forestry, rejected the claim that the trees died due to heat.

He said it is "unusual" for trees to suffer from "heat shock."

In case of prolonged heat, trees wilt and gradually die only if there is lack of sufficient care and watering, he said.

During the recent heat wave, HCMC's highest temperature was around 39 degrees Celsius, a level that trees comfortably survive in, he pointed out.

Even in Hanoi, where temperatures have stayed higher, trees have not been affected.

"We need to consider if the trees were impacted by external factors or pests to find a suitable solution."

 
 
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