Sahabat Alam Malaysia would like to comment on the issue of tree felling which has raised public concerns. There is certainly growing awareness of the importance of greenery due to rising temperatures and the absence of green lungs as massive development and road widening projects bulldoze trees completely.

Expanding highways from two to four lanes will neither improve safety nor ease traffic flow over long term. Road expansion creates a high-speed, high traffic corridor that will encourage more automobile use and increase the problems of emissions, noise and accidents. Whether road safety will be improved is an open question, because the traffic speeds will likely increase.

With Penangites reeling from intolerable weather conditions, it is a pity that the authorities have failed to realise the value of shade providing trees. State authorities should be concerned with maintaining or reducing urban temperature instead of adding to it.

Construction of roads and buildings on hill slopes inevitably involves the felling of trees and removal of vegetation cover. Continuous reduction of green lungs in highly populated and over-developed areas - with the argument that land is "so valuable" - is the motivating factor to uproot everything within the area marked for development.

Developers show hardly any effort in trying to balance the need for development and the natural environment.

Priority is only on profit, with no consideration given to the impact on the overall quality of life, environment and sense of belonging for residents.

It can be ascertained that highly populated and over-developed areas have an increase in urban heat and glare which were previously filtered by the trees.

Therefore trees are critical to the quality of the environment. The benefits of trees can be grouped into social, community, environmental and economic categories.

• Social benefits - the presence of trees make life more pleasant as they have a calming effect on people providing a feeling of serenity and relaxation.
  
  
• Community benefits - Trees in the city often serve several architectural and engineering functions. They provide privacy, act as barrier, reduce glare and reflection and provide backgrounds, or soften, complement or enhance architecture.
  
  
• Environment benefits - Trees alter the environment in which we live by moderating climate, improving air quality, conserving water and harbouring wildlife. Climate control is obtained by moderating the effects of sun, wind, and rain thus reducing the need for air-conditioning.

Last but not least, trees bring natural elements and wildlife habitats into urban surroundings; all of which increase the quality of life for the community.

Is there is any control at all on felling of trees here? In Europe and Australia, even a branch cannot be cut without a permit. While some trees can be replaced easily, trees which are hundreds of years old are not replaceable.

Developers should show more concern for the environment by striking a balance between housing and nature. In many cases developers and landscape architects fail to take into consideration the planning of a park, the natural features in the area, and the diverse lifestyle needs of park users, and integrating the park with surrounding developments.

There are many parts of the country where the need for urban or town planning is still some distance away in the future. There are other areas whose lack of planning is a matter of deep regret.

However the future of vast acres of greenery cannot be taken for granted by those irresponsible individuals who see nothing but money in the green areas of forests, and who influence politicians to make irrational decisions.

As for expansion of highways, there must be some form of regional transportation planning put in place to address the existing traffic and environmental problems before considering road expansion projects.

That's not too much to ask for all that's being sacrificed to make room for additional lanes.

SM Mohd Idris
President, Sahabat Alam Malaysia