According to Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, ‘some boroughs are reluctant to provide detailed figures on [tree] removals because of the fear of the naming and shaming which occurred after the publication of the Chainsaw Massacre report'(1).
This answer was received by Green Party London Assembly Member, Darren Johnson, in response to a question tabled at the Mayor’s Question Time in May (2) requesting an update on the Mayor’s pledge to compile annual street tree data as recommended by the London Assembly Environment Committee ‘Chainsaw Massacre’ – London’s Street Trees’ 2007 report.
Darren Johnson said:
"It is unacceptable that some London councils are hiding their tree removal figures for fear of being named and shamed and that the Mayor is accommodating this.
"I will continue to press the Mayor to deliver on his promise to publish annual data showing the number of tree planted and removed by councils. Producing only Londonwide trends as the Mayor suggest to protect the sensitivities of some London boroughs is pathetic."
The Mayor has pledged to plant 10,000 new trees during his term of office in 40 priority areas in ‘tree free’ locations. The Mayor has pledged in his Climate Adaptation Strategy to ‘work with partners to increase tree cover across London by five per cent (from 20 to 25%) by 2025.(3)
Editors’ Notes
(1) London Assembly Environment Committee (2007), Chainsaw massacre – London’s Street Trees, http://legacy.london.gov.uk/assembly/reports/environment/chainsaw-massacre.pdf
(2) Darren submitted the following question at the May 2010 Mayor’s Question Time.
Mayor answers to London
Street trees (2)
Question No: 1381/2010
Meeting date: 19/05/2010
Question by Darren Johnson
‘What progress have you made in compiling an annual borough breakdown of tree losses and gains, mentioned in your answer to question 2678/2009?’
Answer by Boris Johnson
‘To inform the delivery of my Street Trees initiative I asked one of the partners, Trees for Cities, to obtain figures on tree planting and removals. However, I have discovered that some boroughs are reluctant to provide detailed figures on removals because of the fear of the naming and shaming which occurred after the publication of the Chainsaw Massacre report.
‘However, I recognise that it is important to obtain this information so that I can be sure that we are achieving an overall increase in the street tree canopy across London. Consequently, the revised guidance to this year’s Street Tree fund asks boroughs to supply a detailed breakdown of their street tree data. To overcome borough sensitivities about use of the data, it will be used only to illustrate London-wide trends. We will continue to explore with our partners how we can collate and publish the most useful data possible.
I am able to assure you that my Street Tree initiative funds the planting of street trees over and above those which the boroughs are committed to planting through their own programmes.’
(3) The Mayor of London’s Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for London, Public Consultation Draft – February 2010