SP reduced pruning in 2022 and had an increase in tree falls – 11/08/2023 – Panel

The city of São Paulo has seen an increase in tree falls and a decrease in pruning in recent years.

The Ricardo Nunes (MDB) management carried out 148 thousand prunings in 2022, compared to 168 thousand in the previous year, a reduction of 11%. Tree falls rose from 3,100 in 2021 to 3,800 the following year, an increase of 21%.

The number of tree falls in 2022 was the highest since 2019, when there were 7,356 cases.

Last year, some districts had an explosion of incidents. Partridges (west zone), for example, went from 55 to 114 cases, an increase of 107%. Another affected district, Butantã, went from 37 to 87 cases, an increase of 137%.

In relation to pruning, the record in recent years occurred in 2020, still under the management of Bruno Covas (PSDB), who died the following year, with 174 thousand procedures. This year, until October, the Nunes administration carried out 152 thousand prunings, surpassing last year.

The emedebista administration has tried to hold Justice and Enel responsible for problems that have occurred in recent days.

Regarding Enel, management states that there are 3,690 requests received for pruning or removal of trees in the capital that have been forwarded and are awaiting assistance from the concessionaire.

The administration also states that it proposed changing the rules for replacing and managing trees, but was prevented by a Court of Justice decision.

According to management, the proposal included removing older trees at risk of falling to plant new species recommended by the Municipal Department of Greenery and the Environment.

In April, the Attorney General’s Office obtained an injunction that overturned sections of laws that, in the agency’s view, made environmental protection more flexible.

The report contacted the TJ-SP (São Paulo Court of Justice) about the matter, which stated that it does not comment on jurisdictional issues. “Judges have functional independence to decide in accordance with the documents in the case and their free conviction”, says the court.

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