The two-meter-long tree trunk in front of me was once a huge and lush camphor tree.

It is nearly 20 years old, and it is as high as two or three stories.

Because it blocked the sun from the garden behind the house severely, in January of this year, it was hired by the owner, Mr. Li, to cut off all the branches and became like this.

The lighting problem was solved, but another trouble came quickly: the city management informed Mr. Li that he fell trees without the approval of the greening management department and was fined 144,200 yuan!

　　Mr. Li: Such a heavy penalty, I feel a little bit puzzled. It's not like they said to cut it down, because how can the tree I bought myself be cut down?

There is no motivation for this. I am a person who loves greening, so I bought trees.

At that time, my starting point was to (make the tree) lower, and save trouble later, because we are getting older and cannot afford to trim it every year.

　　Mr. Li is 73 years old this year, and he and his wife love plants very much.

In order to live a life with flowers and plants after retirement, they sold their house in downtown Shanghai and bought a villa in the suburbs 20 years ago.

This camphor is a small sapling bought for 11,000 yuan at that time, and it was originally planted in the garden.

The camphor grows fast and quickly blocks the window.

Ten years ago, Mr. Li discussed with the property and moved the tree to the open space outside the garden.

As a result, Cinnamomum camphora grows more recklessly, and the shade almost covers most of the garden.

The old couple's sweet-scented osmanthus, red maple, and rose did not get enough sunlight, and the lawn died a lot.

This allowed them to make up their minds and ask the workers to prune the camphor more thoroughly.

　　Mr. Li: He cut it. He left (the tree) with branches and so on. I was a layman at the time, and I said just help us fix it lower and make it grow slower so that we can fix it easily.

It's like shaving your head. Hair grows a little bit slower after it's cut. That's the truth.

After this happened, I was discovered by the property, and the city management came angrily. Five people drove up and were angry. They said taking photos, recordings, and videos. He qualitatively judged that it was logging according to the common sense of society. I have never admitted that it was logging. .

　　Regarding why Mr. Li’s behavior was identified as "logging", this week, the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Urban Management cited two technical guidelines.

They explained: According to the "Guidelines for Pruning Common Trees in Shanghai Residential Areas", the standard for "over-pruning" of camphor trees is to keep a few trunks. "Technical Specification for Greening Adjustment in Residential Areas", although Mr. Li retained the main trunk of about 2 meters, the tree was not dead, but because the tree could not restore the crown shape in one growth cycle, it was also considered "cutting down."

　　Mr. Li: They haven't publicized this matter. Everyone doesn't know it. It's not that I don't know, but this time it became a typical example for me.

　　Li Dihua, Associate Professor, School of Architecture and Landscape Design, Peking University: The pruning technique guide is not suitable for this punishment, because the pruning technique guide is a guide for garden companies and the garden industry. This is also my question. The punishment is unreasonable and unreasonable. Problem.

What really needs to be done? Before punishment, we should fully investigate whether this tree really affects the daily life of residents.

If it is indeed necessary to trim or remove, then there is just a question of improper procedures and who will move.

These are more important than how the tree is pruned and called felling.

　　This Friday, the reporter followed Mr. Li to drive around in the community and saw that many trees in the community were pruned by the property. There was no obvious difference from the results of Mr. Li's pruning. They only kept the trunks.

　　This camphor tree was pruned two years ago, and it only retains 1.6 meters of trunk.

At present, it has grown new branches and initially restored its "canopy" shape.

　　Mr. Li: At the time of the repair, I actually called the district greening department. The call came in and I asked if we wanted to repair the tree. Is there any approval procedure?

The phone just dropped me back. We don’t accept it here. Whoever planted two trees in your family, pruned and asked our greening department to come. We don’t have so much manpower. We don’t care about it.

It doesn't matter who I refer to, they also repaired it in the same way when referring to the surrounding properties, and I also repaired it in this way.

　　But the reference did not help Mr. Li avoid punishment.

At the hearing held in March this year, the final decision was still “cutting down trees”.

According to the relevant provisions of the "Regulations of Shanghai Municipality on Greening Management", "cutting down trees" shall be compensated at five to ten times the compensation rate for greening.

The urban management department quoted the green compensation standard announced in 2006. Mr. Li’s camphor tree had a diameter at breast height of 38.8 cm, and its value was 28,840 yuan. The compensation was 5 times the minimum standard, which is 144,200 yuan.

But the problem is that the price of camphor has been reduced significantly compared to more than ten years ago.

　　Mr. Li: This penalty letter was issued on June 30, 2021. (Late Fee) will be fined 3% of the fine every day. If you don't pay, he will seal your bank card. This is a verbal statement.

　　Mr. Li: I was originally a retired middle school teacher. Now I rely on my retirement salary. My son feels distressed. He said that you can forget it, Dad.

I like flowers and plants, nature and trees, and now I have ended up destroying trees. I am very wronged, but also helpless.

　　Li Dihua: In our city, the trees have seriously affected the residents, especially the daily life at the bottom. The urban garden department did not respond in a timely manner. Residents all over the country deal with the situation of the trees in the residential communities by themselves.

We have already emotionalized greening today, that is, as long as we think that greening is good and trees are good in everything, even if it blocks my sunlight and obstructs my air, there is a potential safety risk to my building.

This must be improved in the public perception, that is, greening is what we should accept and support only if it does not affect the normal daily life of the residents.

　　Bai Yansong: After reading this real story, I am afraid that many people will think about this question: Is pruning a tree that you planted brings great harm to the environment?

Or does it not matter whether it is indiscriminate or indiscriminate, regardless of the legal reasoning and rigid law enforcement that will cause great harm to the environment?

In which direction will this punishment go next?

Perhaps all parties should also talk better, because this is a pretty good case related to urban governance.