The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) said in a statement yesterday that it has been treating a camphor tree in Guia Hill Municipal Park for its plant pathogen – Phellinus noxius, commonly known as brown root rot.
According to Wikipedia, the camphor tree is a species of evergreen tree also known as Cinnamomum camphora.
The statement noted that the bureau has already been treating the tree but it does not seem to be responding to treatment, so the bureau had decided to block off the tree from residents and its staff can trim some of its branches.
The statement said that the tree is around 140 years old and its health has recently become fragile. The statement pointed out that in July last year IAM officials found termites and infections in November. The statement underlined that the bark of the tree trunk is dying and it has lots of dried-out branches.
The bureau said that in order to protect public safety, IAM officials will be cutting off some of the branches, which will take about a week, in the hope of saving its life.
If residents find any trees with abnormalities, they should call the bureau on 2833 7676.
This undated handout photo provided by the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) yesterday shows the ailing camphor tree in Guia Hill Municipal Park with barely any leaves left.
