Saving trees in Singapore: HR managers can do more

Letter from Ginny Leow-Guerville
Today Online 8 Dec 09;

I have learnt that the trees along the canal on Bukit Timah Road, which I was fighting to protect, will be cut down to make way for a new MRT line.

I find that a top-down approach to conservation is lacking in many organisations and they do not see a desire for conservation as an important quality in their staff.

I have yet to hear NParks practice cabling, guying or bracing trees which are common tree conservation methods practised in developed countries. Perhaps the Albizia trees, being relatively fast growing, are not worth the money and effort to conserve, but how can we accurately quantify the cost to the environment?

I hope HR managers realise that they can directly make an impact on our environment by choosing individuals who understand and put conservation as a priority in their respective jobs. That way there will be a meeting of the minds and we will achieve mutual respect when decisions concerning our natural landscape are made.