THIS tree was once a landmark at least for people living west of Town Ground in Honiara. It was not a great tree by any means, but it was nevertheless a landmark.
Yesterday this tree which once stood opposite the Coral Sea Resort was hewn down in the name of cleaning up the city. Removing the tree was in contrast to what environmentalists are doing all over the world – planting new trees to counter the effects of climate change.
One wonders whether we are doing the right by cutting trees along our dirty and dusty suburban roads.
Honiara motorists yesterday farewelled this great tree – a sad indictment on our so-called environmental policies.
In removing it, we have exposed our environment to more soil erosion and perhaps less oxygen. As the tree being hauled to the ground, I too was passing by so I decided to pull over to see the tree going, going gone.
It was amazing that despite the potential safety issue falling tree posed to traveling motorists and those walking on foot, there were no police presence there to keep the public at bay.
One wonders how many more trees along our roads stand to be cut down before we come to our environmental senses?
By Alfred Sasako
