In Tashkent, on the former Lunacharsky Street, another round of mass 'sanitary pruning' of trees has been carried out. Workers from the city's landscaping departments left only the upper crowns of century-old plane trees, exposing the trunks and depriving urban greenery of its usual shade and coolness, raising concerns among residents and environmental activists about the impact on the city's ecosystem.

According to prominent public figure and journalist Abu-Ali Niyazmatov, the latest work was recorded on March 7. He noted that tree branches are being pruned constantly and everywhere, at any time of year. "Beautiful plane trees, oaks, and ash trees are turning into something resembling palm trees," he emphasized, criticizing the pruning methods as excessive and damaging.

Niyazmatov added that under the pretext of 'sanitary pruning,' raw materials are collected for production—such as particleboard and charcoal—and branches are sold to cafes and shashlik restaurants. Meanwhile, the cut surfaces are not treated with solution or paint, making the trees vulnerable to pests. "And then the local authorities lament that trees are falling on cars. There was no such mass 'tree-falling' before," he said, suggesting a link between the pruning practices and increased tree instability.

He also drew attention to the climatic effect of the pruning: in a hot and dry city, every twig and leaf is important for cooling. "Stop killing trees with endless pruning. Think about your relatives and loved ones—they also live in the city, breathing the same air," Niyazmatov concluded, calling for a more responsible approach to urban forestry.

Previously, inspectors from the capital's Department of Ecology and Climate Change promptly responded to reports on social media about the systematic felling of perennial pine trees on the territory of a former military unit in the Yashnabad district of Tashkent. Residents of nearby houses raised the alarm after noticing that 2-3 trees were disappearing from the site every night, highlighting ongoing issues with green space management in the city.

Source: podrobno.uz