Trees Uprooted and Fallen in Public Spaces Last Year

Mr Sitoh Yih Pin asked the Minister for National Development (a) how many trees have been uprooted and fallen in public spaces last year; (b) what are the reasons for these incidents; and (c) whether the Ministry has plans to further reduce the number of such incidents.

In 2018, 217 trees were uprooted and fell in public spaces. These incidents were due to strong winds and heavy rainfall.

For the two million trees in urban areas under its care, NParks has a rigorous tree inspection regime in place which consists of regular inspections every 12 to 24 months, and additional annual in-depth inspections for larger trees. NParks also carries out measures such as replacing storm-vulnerable species with hardier trees, pruning trees regularly and prior to periods of more severe weather conditions, and using technology to analyse risk and improve inspection processes. NParks will continue to ensure that its tree management programme remains robust and comprehensive.

There are another one million trees in public housing estates that are managed by the Town Councils (TCs). NParks is working with the TCs and HDB to set up a nation-wide tree registry system to better manage these trees. This system will comprehensively map out trees in public housing estates, and allow TCs to develop suitable tree care regimes and tree replacement programmes. NParks also provides technical training on tree health and maintenance for stakeholders who manage trees in Singapore, including TCs.