IPOH: There are seven “millionaires” living in Taiping Lake Gardens.

       They just happen to be trees valued at RM1mil or more.

       The oldest tree there is 137 years old with an economic value of RM1,339,852.80, said Taiping Municipal Council president Khairul Amir Mohamad Zubir.

       “Its value will continue to increase for as long as it lives,” he added.

       The trees were evaluated using the “Thyer Tree Evaluation Method” created by Peter Thyer from Australia in 1984 to determine the value of trees found in public spaces. Among the parameters used by arborists would be to measure the size, height, age, and social benefits of the tree concerned.

       This means that its contribution to the landscape and public recognition would be taken into consideration.

       Khairul Amir said the value of the trees was determined by a certified arborist association.

       The raintrees of Taiping Lake Gardens made the news again earlier this month when a 135-year-old tree was uprooted during a storm.

       Fortunately, it was successfully restored after five days of backbreaking work.

       The tree has been secured with steel wire at its branches to prevent it from tilting over during a storm.

       Khairul Amir said the raintrees at Lake Gardens range in age from 80 to 130 years old.

       “We have about 94 raintrees and 32 are located at the Raintree Walk,” he said when contacted.

       He added that there were three types of trees in Lake Gardens – Samanea Saman (raintree), Pterocarpus Indicus, and Bertholletia Excelsa.

       The rehabilitation and maintenance work on these trees started in 2017 with a budget allocated by the state government.

       “Among the work done for the trees is checking their health, fertility and the environment that could risk the fertility rate of these trees.

       “We also removed the parasites on these trees and conducted treatment using concentrated liquid compost and zeolite.

       “These trees undergo tree risk assessment including checks on their branches, roots, and leaves using the visual tree assessment (VTA) and special tools such as the resistograph and tomograph.

       “Based on the results from VTA, resistograph and other tests, we have identified the problems each tree faces.

       “The municipal council is working towards its rehabilitation,” said Khairul Amir.

       He added that the council also gives consideration to a long-term plan to prolong the longevity of the trees.

       “In 2016, we closed the 630m road stretch from the Hotel Flemington roundabout up to the corner near Jalan Maharaja Lela for all motorised vehicles to reduce the weight impact from vehicles on the root and lower limb of these trees.

       “This closed street is now called Raintree Walk.

       “We also closed the road in front of the Taiping Zoo and Night Safari, and built Jalan Taman Tasik Lestari as an exit route for road users in the area.

       “Apart from that, any fallen trees that can be rescued will be checked by arborists.

       “They will undergo a rehabilitation process using the topsoil method near its root area,” he said.