Bogor hospital cuts old trees

BOGOR, West Java (JP): Bogor's PMI Hospital has cut the branches of six large trees standing along the hospital's entrance to protect the hospital from storms.

The cutting project's supervisor, Aday, said yesterday the hospital decided to have the old mahoni (Swietenia mahagoni) trees cut after storms hit Bandung and Jakarta.

"We don't want any accidents. The other day a tree trunk fell on the roof of the hospital," Aday said.

Storms in Jakarta on Sunday claimed four lives. Another storm hit Bandung last week, damaging many cars and houses.

The trees were left about eight meters high without any branches causing what was a shady area to be hot. "In the next five years the tress will grow more beautifully," Aday said.

An environmentalist, Otto Sumarwoto, said in the past written permits from the Botanical Gardens had to be obtained by those wanting to cut trees in Bogor.

The head of the Bogor Tourism Office, Diani Budiarto, said yesterday a permit from the mayor was still needed.

It is unknown if the state-owned PMI Hospital had a permit before the six old trees were cut. (24)