Don't let the fight against the storm cut off our 'green lungs'...

(Baonghean) - Greenery is an indispensable element in urban spaces. With the rainy and stormy season approaching, caring for and beautifying these "green lungs" is a priority for the city.

In Vinh City, with a population of approximately 315,000 in 2015, the average green space per person reached 11.88 m2, accounting for 3.56% of the city's total natural area. This result was achieved thanks to the city's efforts in planting new trees, replanting, and renovating parks and gardens over the years. However, it is still necessary to effectively and promptly address unhealthy trees that negatively impact urban aesthetics, streetscapes, or even pose potential safety risks to residents, especially as the rainy and stormy season approaches.

Trees leaning precariously pose a risk of breaking and falling during the rainy and stormy season.

On some of the city's long-standing streets such as Phan Dinh Phung, Dang Thai Than, Ho Han Thuong, Dinh Cong Trang, etc., preliminary observations indicate that some trees are leaning and could break or fall during sudden thunderstorms or heavy rain. Other trees show signs of roots protruding above the ground, damaging tree planters and sidewalk paving. Trees that live and grow naturally, with little regular pruning, shaping, or protection, have, over time, resulted in poor growth, leaning, low canopies, and exposed roots, affecting both safety and urban aesthetics.

Many residents have expressed concern about this situation, as Ms. Vu Thi Huong (residing in Cua Nam ward) shared: “Compared to many other localities nationwide, I see that our city has actively planted many new trees, but at the same time, more attention needs to be paid to protecting and adjusting trees that are not growing straight or beautifully, with roots spreading out haphazardly and making sidewalks and streets look unsightly. Any trees that are too unsightly should be considered for replacement.”

Some trees along Dinh Cong Trang street are leaning, with their roots exposed above the ground.

Recognizing the problem, the Vinh City People's Committee directed the Urban Management Department to coordinate with and urge the Vinh City Green Parks Company to actively review, compile statistics, and handle trees that need to be removed or renovated before the rainy season. After three phases of implementation, it is known that an additional 2,600 trees have been renovated and nearly 50 diseased trees have been treated throughout the city, basically preparing for the upcoming rainy season.

Tree roots have dislodged paving stones on Dang Thai Than Street.

Mr. Phan Xuan Bao, Director of Vinh City Green Parks Company, said: In implementing the city's annual storm and flood prevention plan, the unit regularly replaces dead trees, those severely diseased or rotten, and carries out maintenance and pruning work to prevent breakage during bad weather for trees with excessively lush foliage or those that have grown too tall… However, due to limited resources, some trees with exposed roots that dislodge sidewalk paving stones, affecting the overall landscape, are deemed not dangerous to the public and are therefore put on hold until funding is available.

Phu Binh