“Oak issue.” Official comment

Today, the chief specialist of the Department of Municipal Economy of Uzhgorod City Council Maxim Borovikov and Associate Professor of Botany at Uzhgorod National University Inna Besehanych at the request of representatives of several TV channels commented on the situation with the cutting of oak trees next to a private lot in Turystychny lane in Uzhgorod.

According to Maxim Borovikov, under the rules of street maintenance, every citizen should take care about the area adjacent to their houses, offices, businesses, etc. Recently, an Uzhgorod resident appealed to the City Council regarding the removal of two dry trees next to his lot where a construction is being carried out. As always in such cases, the site was examined by the commission which included representatives of the Faculty of Biology of UzhNU. In June, the experts concluded that trees in Turystychny lane were indeed dry, had not turn green in summer, it was clearly seen that they were not developing and were dangerous, therefore a relevant report was drawn up, under which a warrant for the removal of trees was granted.

Inna Besehanych who, as a scientist, biologist, is a member of the commision that decides on granting permissions to remove trees, added: "Under the rules of green spaces maintenance, annual surveys are conducted to identify dry trees subject to removal, because they are potentially dangerous for people, buildings and structures. Trees that have dried up must be removed before they fall and cause damage. Members of the commission made sure (it was already summer month) that the two oaks in Turystychny lane were dry and needed to be removed. As to whether construction work or any other actions could have damaged the trees, the people who have such information should have appealed to environmental services, prosecution, to stop this process or punish the guilty party."