Winds fell tress in Bogor

BOGOR (JP): Strong winds have been blamed for the destruction of 12 trees in the Bogor Botanical Garden during the last two months, Didik Widyatmoko, the head of the garden's registration section, said yesterday.

It was believed that winds were able to knock over the trees because most had been transplanted to the garden rather than planted as seeds, he said.

"When the transplanted trees grow bigger, their roots are not able to support the upper branches so if there is rain and strong winds, the trees will easily topple over."

"Bogor's soil is so fertile that the trees' roots become too lazy to penetrate further into the ground."

The trees were part of the garden's 4,500 species of flora, he said.

Sudjati, the head of the collection section, said the prolonged dry season had caused the soil to dry out.

"The roots could not really anchor themselves in the ground. So when there is heavy rain and strong winds, the trees are weak," he said.

Since April, more than 30 trees have fallen, mostly due to the drought and aging.

"Most of the affected plants are from the fabaceae or pea family and sapindaceae or soapberry family.

"The dry season also affects young trees which have just been transplanted from the nursery," he said. (24/04)