Urban tree planting across Taiwan would be tailored to local conditions and consider expert input, as several commonly used species — including cherry blossom, cotton, blackboard and banyan trees — may be unsuitable for urban settings, Minister of Environment Peng Chi-ming (彭啓明) said in an interview published today by the Liberty Times (sister paper of Taipei Times).
As part of its urban afforestation initiative, the Ministry of Environment plans to double the area covered by green canopy.
When it comes to selecting kinds of trees, Peng said he is not an expert, but there are four kinds of trees commonly planted in Taiwan that would be unsuitable.
Photo: CNA
Cherry blossom trees are beautiful during their annual bloom, but provide limited shade at other times, Peng said.
Bombax ceiba, or cotton tree, produces fluffy fibers when flowering that may trigger allergies, he said.
Alstonia scholaris, or blackboard tree, emits an unpleasant smell that people have complained about, the minister said.
Lastly, banyan trees have aggressive root systems that can damage roads, creating problems for both people and the trees themselves, he added.
The minister said that tree species should be decided through local discussions in each area.
Planting trees does not translate into more shaded areas the following year, as it takes at least 10 years for them to mature, Peng said.
To help people visualize the outcome, the ministry plans to create an app using augmented reality to show people what the landscape might look like in a decade, he said.
The app would track growth and include a tree adoption system to increase public participation, giving each tree an identification number, he added.
Imperial College London professor Frank Kelly previously said some areas of London have planted too many trees, which could worsen air quality, as trees can trap vehicle emissions along narrow streets, Peng said.
This serves as a reminder that urban afforestation meetings should include not only tree-planting experts, but also air pollution specialists, the minister said.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has since 2016 promoted low-emission zones to reduce vehicle pollution, restricting or charging higher-emission vehicles, while allowing low-emission vehicles such as electric cars, Peng said.
Protecting urban air quality should transcend party lines, he said, adding that he would share effective ideas with local governments.
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