Residents of Mabaruma have agreed to have century-old rubber trees felled after an evaluation report by the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) recommended that they be removed immediately due to their decayed state.
This was disclosed by Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley, who told Stabroek News yesterday that the GFC’s recommendation was that the trees be removed as soon as possible because of their state which would eventually result in the trees falling on their own.
Following a public backlash regarding the cutting down of the rubber trees, the Mabaruma Town Council decided to engage forestry experts to determine whether the trees were a physical threat to the persons living in the town.
In 2019 it was announced that the trees were scheduled to be felled to facilitate a road expansion project. However, many protested the decision and an online petition was created with the hope of saving the trees. The project was subsequently halted pending a final decision by the residents.
Ashley informed that consultations with residents of Mabaruma were held on March 30 and based on the GFC evaluation report on the trees, the residents decided it would be best to have the trees felled. He said the trees have outlived their lifespan and residents have agreed to replant similar trees at another location.
“The recommendation [by the GFC] gave guidance to our consultation,” Ashley stated before revealing that the Regional Democratic Council is in the process of informing the relevant stakeholders of the decision so that they can chart a way forward.
Once all stakeholders agree with the residents’ decision, Ashley said, the trees will be removed and roadworks will continue.
The rubber trees were planted approximately 101 years go by Philbert Pierre, who was the manager of a coffee and rubber plantation in Aruka. He was widely regarded as a visionary who expected great things of the North West District. He died in 1930.
Although there had been other tree planting exercises involving rubber trees, they were unsuccessful. In January, several of the trees were felled but Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, halted the removal of the remaining trees and asked for a further consultation to be done. There were just over 100 trees. Ashley had stated that the trees were a threat to lives and there have been instances where falling branches have caused damage to infrastructure and vehicles.
