Rare green spaces in HCM City’s District 5. The city does not have yet regulations on the preservation of green spaces.

Che Dinh Ly, deputy head of the Environment and Natural Resources Institute, said the city does not have regulations on the preservation of green spaces.

He said the city Transport Department should submit suggestions to the city People’s Committee to preserve trees, particularly specimen, heritage, veteran and historic trees.

Dr. Dinh Quang Diep of the HCM City Agriculture and Forestry University said the city should preserve trees in four major areas, including Sai Gon Zoo, Thong Nhat (Reunification) Palace, Tao Dan Park and April 30 Park, as well as along the streets of Suong Nguyet Anh, Huyen Tran Cong Chua and Truong Dinh.

In addition, trees should be preserved near schools, hospitals, pagodas, and residential houses in the districts of 1, 3, 2, 9, Tan Binh, Phu Nhuan, Binh Thanh, Thu Duc and Cu Chi.

Associate Professor Le Cong Kiet of the HCM City Natural Sciences University said that many old and valuable trees were being cut down to make way for construction projects.

In a meeting held in June, the Transport Department reported that 118 trees had been destroyed by heavy rain and winds since the beginning of the year. Pavement construction units had also damaged more than 600 trees in districts 1 and 3 from January to June.

The department’s inspectors fined pavement construction units more than VND254 million (US$14,269), but only VND42 million ($2,359) has been paid.

Pham Van Hieu, deputy head of the city’s Green Tree Park Company, said that around 2,000 trees are struck by lightning each year.

Vo Van Chi of the HCM City Medical University said that residents’ understanding of environmental issues was poor.

More attention should be paid to improving school curricula to raise environmental awareness, Tran Viet My of the HCM City Agricultural Extension Centre, said.

Diep said the city should preserve its green spaces by regularly pruning, removing parasites, and cultivating seeds.

Experts suggested that the department draw up a list of trees that should be preserved and submit it to the People’s Committee. The approved list could then be published in the media.

VNN/VNS