The co-existence of trees and human settlements is such a
common phenomenon that it is often taken for granted. Consciously
or subconsciously, the humankind wants the company of trees
at or near dwellings. This basic need traverses different
places of different cultures in different times. The broad
spectrum of benefits that can be brought by trees, practical
or less tangible, are widely recognized. The urge to realize
the benefits, however, varies greatly from place to place.
Some towns and cities accord a high priority to greening and
allocate much resources for successful implementation of planting
programmes. Others may be less forthcoming in pursuing this
relatively high-level municipal goal. Some excel in both the
quantity and quality of the arboreal stock, whereas others
may have dismal records in the same regards.
The status of a city's trees is to a large
extent the product of its urban history and geography. One
that was founded in a well-forested land would naturally inherit
a good collection of trees existing at the site. One that
began on a sparsely wooded or treeless site would be deprived
of any natural inheritance. The rate and magnitude of urbanization
in comparison to the capacity of the land to absorb the expansion
can have bearing on the resultant urban morphology and hence
the availability of plantable spaces. A well-planned modern
city or recent accretion to an existing one will have more
spaces allocated to plant lives, than old settlements with
densely-packed building and street pattern.
Urban development in Hong
Kong, since the founding of the City of Victoria in 1840s,
has always been beset by the shortage of easily developable
lands. The steeply-sloping terrain and lack of flat lands
in the urban core around the harbour, coupled with a fast
rate of population and urban growth, have engendered a city
of phenomenal development density. Practically every plot
of building land, acquired at high cost and with much efforts
from hill terracing or reclamation from the sea, is used at
the maximum allowable intensity. Consequently, large tracts
of our main city areas around the harbour are filled almost
continuously with tightly-packed buildings abutting roads.
Hardly any room for amenity planting, except at the few urban
parks and occasional local open spaces, has been left in the
pervasive high-density districts.
It is against such an urban morphology that our trees have
to exist and survive. It is neither an easy nor an enviable
task to try to nurture healthy and robust trees in the stressful
urban habitats. The plethora of physical and physiological
limitations to growth often will, over the years, dampen the
vigour of most trees. The majority bear evident symptoms of
a trying tenure that gradually and assuredly wear down all
except the exceptionally tolerant. Less than optimal performance
of trees, especially those situated at the inimical roadside
locations, is unfortunately the usual outcome if not the foregone
conclusion. Tree managers thus have to face an uphill battle
to maintain their charge against the multiple and damaging
negative factors.
After some decades of sustenance or struggle in the urban
environment and perseverance through continual episodes of
onslaught, only a small number of individuals will be able
to soldier on with relative freedom from injuries and other
maladies. The fortuitous combination of circumstances together
with genetic superiority must have jointly accorded these
chosen ones with the necessary defence to thrive despite the
odds. The minority that qualify to be enlisted in the elitist
group no doubt constitute the precious gems of our arboreal
population. They are marked by evident tell-tale indicators,
notably outstanding stature, well-formed architecture, exceptional
vigour and vitality.
Urban trees of above-par morphology and performance naturally
become the focus of attraction. People's attention will tend
to converge towards such centripetal targets. Roads and open
spaces adorned with their graceful form will acquire key landscape
or landmark features. Other than appreciating and admiring
them as mother nature's creative objects of art, it is not
uncommon to find some residents cultivating fond emotional
attachments to such doyens of their neighbourhood. The deep
feeling towards these majestic living creatures, for some
traditionally-minded elderly folks, is sometimes elevated
beyond mere respect to the level of veneration. Fine virtues
and qualities, such as longevity, robust health, sturdy physique,
and above all perseverance despite the odds, hopefully can
be bestowed upon the faithful worshippers.
For their special status to individuals, and for their collective
contributions to human societies, we should pay special attention
to the welfare of our dear green companions. In order that
we can properly look after them, we need appropriate baseline
information such as species identification, location, dimensions
and condition. Knowledge breeds understanding, which breeds
consciousness, which breeds concern, which breads care, and
which breeds love. In order to trigger this most desirable
snowball syndrome, we must take the important initial step
of getting to know our targets. At different scales ranging
from towns to cities, counties to states (or provinces), or
even whole countries, the exceptional trees are often as a
matter of routine accorded exceptional attention. They are
frequently studied, registered and protected dutifully, and
are known variously as big, beautiful, specimen, outstanding,
historic, heritage, elite or champion trees.
