The linden tree in Balšića Street in Podgorica, which was cut down a few days ago, is registered in the Cadastre of Green Areas of the Capital City (kzp.podgorica.me).
Along with the information that it is "more than 30 years old", it is also stated that it is an "exceptional tree", and the vitality and decorativeness of the linden were rated five. Its value, as stated, was estimated at 3.640 euros.
"Vijesti" asked "Zelenilo" from Podgorica if, apart from information, the cadastre of greenery has and can have some other purpose. If the listed greenery is cut down, as in the case of the linden tree in Balšića Street, what does it mean in relation to the value listed in the cadastre.
"The cadastre of green areas is a project that requires a large investment, both in updating and daily engagement in monitoring and administration, which considering the volume of work that this company currently has, is not realistic. Certainly, we are of the opinion that the Cadastre is a good tool for the management of public green areas, and in the coming period we will consider the possibility of devoting ourselves to its updating and more intensive use", they told "Vijesti".
At the beginning of the year, next to the "Kovači" store, in the Stari aerodrome neighborhood, a ten-year-old white birch tree was cut down. That tree was also registered in the Cadastre of Green Areas of the Capital City and, according to these data, at the time of registration it was over five meters high and in very good condition. The value of the cut white birch was estimated at 992 euros.
Upon the announcement that the assembly of apartment owners at the entrance to building 147 on Pera Ćetkovića Boulevard would file a complaint against an unknown person for cutting down a white birch tree, the capital city said that the cadastre is informative and that no punitive measures can be applied based on it.
"When it comes to the Cadastre of green areas, we remind you that its role is informative, and that it represents a tool and mechanism for planning and managing green areas. With the existence of the Cadastre, such situations cannot be prevented, nor can punitive measures be applied on that basis," they said at the time.
Officially, it is not known who cut down the white birch.
The Secretariat for Communal Affairs made a decision about the cutting of linden trees in Balšića Street.
"As a result of the works on the reconstruction of part of Balšićeva Street, the Agency for Construction and Development of Podgorica turned to the Secretariat for Communal Affairs to assess the condition of the perennial tree in the said street. A detailed inspection and assessment determined that the tree could not be kept, because keeping it on the road in question would potentially mean a danger to citizens and their property, and the Secretariat for Communal Affairs issued a Decision for its removal", said "Zelenil" yesterday.
They also said that the reconstruction project of Balšića Street "envisages the landscaping of the said road, that is, the formation of a new line of trees."
After the linden tree was cut in Balšića Street, citizens published photos of the sycamore tree on social networks, next to which, as part of the same works and reconstruction, the street was dug up. They state that they hope that the tree, as one of the oldest in Podgorica, will not be damaged during the reconstruction. In the cadastre, however, that tree is also stated to be "more than 30 years old". Its value is estimated at 3.380 euros, 260 euros less than the estimated value of a cut linden tree from the same street.
In an interview with "Vijesti" at the beginning of 2021, "Zelenil" said that in the course of that year, greenery from the entire territory of the Capital City will be entered in the Cadastre of Green Areas, which has not happened in the meantime.
Then they also said that, among other things, data on 11.000 trees, bushes and green areas, urban furniture and recreational areas had been previously collected... and that the listed trees alone are worth a little more than 16 million euros.
They also said then that the cutting of greenery is not done "without an immediate need" and that they decide to cut it "if it is about older seedlings".
"The transplanting of which is impossible due to the size of the above-ground and ground parts of the plants, which would not survive transplanting", they said earlier.
They added that investors, according to the Decision on landscaping and maintenance of green areas, are obliged to ensure the transplanting of healthy trees or the planting of three new trees for every tree cut down.
Bonus video:
