Trees are nature's air purifiers, but currently, their condition is causing serious concern. The leaves of some mature trees in the capital of Uzbekistan appeared wilted, though they remained green. Among the trees planted on the city streets, many are sagging and visibly unhealthy. Numerous city residents have already raised alarm, posting about this issue on social media.
To understand the causes of this problem and find possible solutions, we turned to ecology experts in Tashkent:
1. Mutabar Khushvakhtova - an ecologist, the owner of the eco-store "Yashil uyim," and the founder of the charity organization for landscaping workers "Baxt Ulash,"
2. Nodira Khidoyatova - Agrochemist
3. Tatyana Yugay - Head of the Landscape Design Association
4. Nargis Kosimova - Eco-journalist, media trainer, Doctor of Philological Sciences.
What is happening to the trees?
Mutabar Khushvakhtova, an ecologist, the owner of the eco-store "Yashil uyim," and the founder of the charity organization for landscaping workers "Baxt Ulash," identified improper watering as one of the main reasons for the poor condition of leaves on trees in Tashkent. Watering plants during the hot hours of the day leads to water evaporation and creates a steam bath effect, which negatively affects the leaves. The optimal time for watering is early morning or evening after sunrise. Prolonged soil moisture due to daytime watering results in root decay.
To effectively care for trees, it is essential to administer proper treatment and regulate the operation of irrigation fountains according to a schedule, rather than merely limiting the tree pruning.
In the past, flood irrigation was used instead of small irrigation fountains. Trees developed deep roots, searching for water. However, now we use lawn irrigation, which takes place during the hottest time of the day, around 3-4 pm.
Lawn irrigation is intended only for grass that is about 10-15 centimeters long. As a result, trees develop roots closer to the soil surface, as they get accustomed to receiving water from above. This leads to their root systems suffering during frost and snowfall, as they are weak due to being close to the surface.
In some cases, this results in trees falling on people or vehicles. The weakening of roots is not a natural occurrence but a consequence of people's incompetence towards trees, leading to accidents.
It is a complex problem, and there is no single cause responsible for the destruction of trees. It is not accurate to blame only the landscaping service or watering, and so on. Gradually replacing diseased trees with healthier ones is crucial because weakened trees cannot achieve the same level of health and size.
Whitewashing tree trunks with lime is also an incorrect solution. This is because alkaline substances do not work well on tree bark—it dries out and may even crack or peel. No whitewashing or similar practices are found in nature, which means they are unnecessary in horticulture as well.
Instead, it is important to use compost and determine the cause of leaf fall and diseases to take appropriate measures for their treatment.
Concrete encasement of trees leads to the lack of access to water and minerals, resulting in their demise. This problem requires intervention from specialists. Large trees cannot survive under such conditions, and young saplings are still too young to provide the city with sufficient oxygen.
Agrochemist Nodira Khidoyatova
One of the main reasons for the poor condition of trees in our city is parasites and fungi. Primarily, it's fusarium and verticillium—fungi that reside in the soil. Once verticillium and fusarium weaken the tree, powdery mildew attacks coniferous trees, and bark beetles attack plane trees.
These fungi infect the roots, causing them to decay, which weakens the trunk. In other words, the fungi gradually deplete the trees. This year, Uzbekistan lost 30% of its plantings, and next year, we'll lose 40%.
The main reason is that we experienced a lot of rain this year, leading to soil moisture and subsequent fungal growth. However, there's another reason—decorative plants are imported from Spain, the Netherlands, and various other countries. For instance, last year, verticillium devastated all olive plantations in Spain, and the imported plants to Uzbekistan brought these fungi with them.
The authorities are reluctant to treat them because it's costly. They sell diseased trees and flowers to the public, and that's how these diseases spread. Improper tree pruning also matters, but now the soil is contaminated due to the import of diseased plants, damp spring, and constant lack of sunlight, among many other factors that promote the development of pathogens in the soil.
Tatyana Yugay - Head of the Landscape Design Association
In Tashkent, we have a sharply continental climate. It's extremely hot in summer and very cold in winter, and this problem is worsening. Additionally, we have a poor attitude towards trees. One of the main enemies of trees is the landscaping service, which constantly prunes them. They cut down large trees and plant thin ones that take a long time to grow. Until chainsaws are taken away from the foresters, nothing will change. The trees on Shota Rustaveli Street are in terrible condition. In the past, there were massive plane trees, but now they have all been cut down. First, the branches were pruned, and then the trees were entirely cut down. If, according to a moratorium, it is prohibited to remove trees, they are gradually killed first, then the state environmental agencies are informed of the tree's disease, claiming that it was dry, and only then are they officially cut down. As a result, regardless of the circumstances, the felling occurs. All this is done to clear space for construction and open building facades. Those whose territory becomes the site of cut trees and where something new is built are to blame.
Tree pruning, in addition to other aspects, is also associated with financial benefits, as branches are in demand on the market. Take, for example, the pilaf preparation center located near the TV tower—notice the material used to cook the famous dish: thick and large tree branches.
Pines and junipers should not be planted along roads because the asphalt heats up in summer and releases harmful toxins. So, hardy trees should be planted along roads, and conifers on lawns, as they purify the air. We must understand which trees should be planted in each specific area. Once a tree is planted, we shouldn't touch it, as it can provide itself with water from the ground. The consequences of destroying tree canopies not only affect the plant life but also the animal life.
In our city, there are hardly any birds left due to the use of strong chemicals on trees. These chemicals are used to combat pests, but they also destroy all the fauna that inhabits the trees. Therefore, we now have almost no birds, dragonflies, or other insects. City lawns also do not contribute to the presence of animals. Currently, worldwide efforts are being made to restore natural meadows to create a favorable habitat for birds and other animals. Birds need dense areas; they can live near the subway, not fearing the noise, but they need to be hidden from view. People, however, cut down trees and their branches. In our city, there is no suitable habitat for birds, and sadly, we rarely encounter squirrels. Nature doesn't need our help, do not destroy or disturb it, and it will restore itself.
Nargis Kosimova - Eco-journalist, media trainer, Doctor of Philological Sciences.
To address the problem, it is essential, first and foremost, to develop strict regulations in city construction and urban planning aimed at preserving healthy trees. Those who cement trees and the leaders responsible for tree pruning should be strictly punished. Another issue is the installation of garlands and lights on trees, which disturbs the birds inhabiting them.
Many coniferous trees have perished due to cold weather and pests. Numerous conifers and expensive imported saplings are planted, while it is possible to acquire locally adapted saplings from forestry enterprises. This problem is associated with money laundering and corruption.
I lead a public association of ecologists, where we have about 300 young eco-volunteers in our republic with whom we carry out a tree watering campaign. However, these efforts are just a drop in the ocean. To preserve trees and improve the environmental situation, it is necessary to develop irrigation systems with specialists before planting trees, and society must actively participate in solving this issue.
Are there specialists engaged in analyzing and observing tree diseases?
Nodira Khidoyatova - Agrochemist
We have specialists, we have a soil science institute, a plant quarantine and protection agency, and they conduct laboratory analyses. Everyone is well aware of the reasons behind the poor condition of trees. They are just not interconnected.
There are many scientists who remain unnoticed and invisible. The good specialists are old, and there are no young specialists. The public also bears responsibility for the tree problem, and their attitude towards nature needs to change. I am confident that if nothing changes within 3 years, there will simply be no trees left in our city.
I personally visited the Forestry Center and the State Plant Quarantine Inspection regarding tree parasites. They identified powdery mildew to me. While examining one tree, they informed me that the tree itself was not sick, but the soil around it was. I am very pleased that research is being conducted at our plant protection and quarantine agency. They provided me with a report stating that they found the powdery mildew parasite, which is very dangerous for conifers. They also detected verticillium and fusarium on some trees. According to the results, it turned out that it was not the trees that were sick, but specifically the soil. However, the soil affects the roots, which begin to decay, and the parasite enters the tree through the root.
Tatyana Yugay - Head of the Landscape Design Association
We have specialists in the Forestry Institute, whose knowledge is not utilized in practice. There is a plant protection research institute at the agrarian institute. Unfortunately, they engage just about anyone for the job, but not specialists to save the trees.
Another problem is that our specialists have no ability to control and punish violators, as specialized bodies in our country are responsible for this. There have been cases where ecology inspectors were assaulted by landowners on whose land trees were illegally cut down. All this indicates that environmental control agencies are actively working but face obstacles.
The best thing we can do for our trees is to leave them alone, not cut them down, and avoid using incorrect chemicals and watering methods. Even in our hot climate, trees can survive if we provide them with the opportunity.
What trees and shrubs are most susceptible to diseases in Uzbekistan?
Agrochemist Nodira Khidoyatova
For instance, yews are most susceptible to fungal infections, which affect their shoots, trunks, and roots.
As for plane trees, they thrive well in urban environments and contribute to air purification. With their broad and branching crown, good resistance to sunlight, they are often planted in alleys, parks, and oases along canals in Asia. These robust trees, placed along water bodies, also protect the water from overheating and evaporation. However, even they are now susceptible to diseases. Recently, I have observed infestations of bark beetles and longhorn beetles in plane trees. They infiltrate the trees and start consuming them from the inside. This is primarily impacting the ecology.
I am delighted that the canals in our city are being restored to revive the city's ecosystem. However, plane trees that are 40-50 years old have already been affected because bark beetles attacked them, devouring them from within. I see many trees that can be easily saved. Each tree requires an individual approach to treatment since each one has its own underlying cause of illness.
Tatyana Yugay - Head of the Association of Landscape Design
In our country, there are many junipers, so it may seem like they suffer from diseases more often. In reality, junipers are quite hardy. The problem lies in improper planting, causing many of them to wither.
Powdery mildew is a common disease among coniferous trees. A characteristic sign of infestation by this insect is the appearance of a white cottony layer on the branches and trunks of the plant. If conifers are infected with powdery mildew, they can perish within three years. However, oak disease, for example, does not transfer to neighboring ash trees.
It's essential to remember that conifers are susceptible to this disease only when they are in close proximity to other conifers. If one juniper gets sick, it can quickly infect all nearby junipers. Therefore, when planting, it is recommended to combine different tree species to reduce the risk of spreading this disease. For example, despite this fact, when planting trees along the roads, only pines or junipers were used for a 5-kilometer stretch.
How are trees treated and fertilized in our settlements?
Agrochemist Nodira Khidoyatova
In our country, there is no proper treatment for trees. We need to develop biological methods of treatment for the safety of human health, and I am against using chemical preparations. Our company, Ested LLC Shchelkovo Agrochem, studied the work of foreign experts and identified two methods of tree treatment: root treatment and infusion treatment (drip). To ensure the well-being of both people and trees during treatment, we realized that we can administer treatment to trees just like administering an IV to a person.
Imagine that a city is hit by a plague. In such a case, we begin treating the plague immediately. The same applies to trees now. They are affected by root fungi. The main problem lies in the tree roots. The poor state of trees in the country is due to the improper treatment of soil and incorrect tree planting. We have a soil science institute. They should conduct analyses and provide recommendations for what the soil lacks in specific cities in our country or what diseases are present. The plant quarantine and protection agency should provide recommendations for plant treatment, including chemical or biological methods of treatment. Most importantly, these recommendations should be implemented. For this, it is necessary to entrust this task to neighborhood committees and other structures, in order to preserve our green culture.
Tatyana Yugay - Head of the Association of Landscape Design
Trees have never been treated in our country. The medicines for trees that are sold here are all toxic. In other words, if we want to treat a tree for, say, bark beetles, by spraying it with these toxins, we not only kill the bark beetles but also everything living on the tree that is necessary for its ecosystem.
Have guidelines for the treatment and pruning of trees been developed after the introduction of the first moratorium on logging?
Agrochemist Nodira Khidoyatova
We have a moratorium on tree logging, but there are no proper guidelines for the treatment and pruning of trees. To create these guidelines, we need to gather the Plant Protection and Quarantine Agency, the Department of Ecology, and the Ministry of Nature around the table. They should identify the root of the problem and find ways to address it. In other words, it can only be achieved through a comprehensive approach.
Tatyana Yugay - Head of the Association of Landscape Design
According to the moratorium, we can only perform pruning twice a year, specifically removing diseased branches from the trees. However, in our case, trees are being cut down all year round, regardless of the restrictions.
Guidelines are like instructions for treating trees. We do have guidelines prepared at the Forestry Institute, but they are distributed to anyone and everyone – developers, people from the city's urban improvement service, except for the specialists responsible for tree treatment. Because of this, the current guidelines do not serve much purpose.
The guidelines on this issue are not of great importance since they are given to people, especially developers, without making them experts in nature conservation or guaranteeing the proper treatment of trees. Caring for trees requires the involvement of true specialists. In the past, there was abundant greenery and flowers because specialists took care of these trees. However, now the head of beautification in one of our city's districts cannot distinguish between an oak and an ash tree.
On December 30, 2021, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree on an indefinite moratorium on tree felling. The fine for its violation has been increased by 5 times, the amount of damage will be collected in 2 times the amount. A premium is being introduced for reporting logging.
By: Oyzodabegim Boymanova
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