More than a third (38 percent) of the new large dendroflora seedlings planted this year in Tivat's Great City Park have already dried up, or are in such poor condition that they will most likely die.
This follows from the answers to questions from "Vijesti" regarding the (un)successful latest major campaign to enrich dendroflora in a protected nature object, received from the Secretariat for Spatial Planning.
At the beginning of the year, the Podgorica-based company "Ekoplant", after winning a tender, planted about a hundred new large seedlings of several tree species. However, a good portion of those seedlings did not take root successfully, or in the meantime completely dried up.
"According to the data available to the Secretariat for Spatial Planning, out of the total contracted number of 110 seedlings (16 species with five to 10 seedlings of each species) - through several phases, 100 seedlings were planted by the supplier, in various parts of the park area, in accordance with the inherited concept of the space. There are 10 seedlings left to be planted, for which, according to information provided by the supplier, import has been difficult. Of that number, a total of 38 specimens were recorded during a field visit at the beginning of August that are in poor condition. These are seedlings located in frequent positions near the city chapel, along the walking path that connects the city chapel area and the Captain Marko Krstović Promenade, and near the entrance to the park west of the Tivat Health Center," the local administration, which annually allocates significant amounts of money for the maintenance and landscaping of the Great City Park complex, told "Vijesti".
When asked what caused the drying and decay of such a significant number of newly planted trees in the park, which should be regularly inspected, maintained and watered, who is to blame and at whose expense the dried seedlings will be replaced with new ones, the Secretariat responded that several factors influenced this.
"Since these are plants, which are living organisms and whose successful reception during transplantation is influenced by a large number of factors, the assumption is that seedlings that are dry and in poor condition experienced stress during maneuvering and planting, which is generally recognized as a greater risk for larger seedlings. Also, extreme heat is a significant factor," the Municipality explained.
They point out that "replacement planting of these specimens is planned after the irrigation system is put back into operation and when weather conditions are more suitable for planting plants (after the period of extreme heat, drought and heat waves) has passed."
"The Municipality of Tivat will strive to determine the causes of the damage with the supplier and arrange for the supplier to replace the seedlings that have failed or are in poor condition," the Secretariat for Spatial Planning said.
They emphasized that the Tivat Municipal Company, which is the official manager of the Great City Park, confirmed to them that "the Greening Service has been regularly watering the newly planted plants, however, despite all efforts, a certain number of those plants are in poor condition."
Podgorica's "Ekoplant" was the only bidder in the tender for the enrichment of the dendroflora of the Great City Park, which was conducted by the Municipality of Tivat at the end of last year. According to this contract, "Ekoplant" is obliged to deliver and plant a total of 110 new tree seedlings in the Great City Park complex, for which the local administration of Tivat pays it 41.322 euros including VAT. The tender documentation required the supplier and contractor to procure and plant a total of 110 new tree seedlings with a minimum height of 3,5 meters in the park. At that time, new specimens of Himalayan cedar, narrow-pyramidal and broad-crown cypress, Monterey cypress, swamp cypress, pine nuts, Aleppo pine, Himalayan pine, small-leaved and large-leaved linden, holm oak, black ash, hornbeam, honeysuckle, mountain maple, carob and liquidambar were ordered. According to the tender provisions, the supplier is obliged to provide the Municipality of Tivat with a guarantee that in the next three years, until full rooting is achieved, the newly planted trees will not sprout.
"The work on delivery, preparation of the terrain and planting should be carried out in accordance with the protection measures prescribed by the Decision on the Proclamation of the Large City Park in Tivat as a Protected Natural Asset and the rules of the profession, i.e. in a way that does not impair the aesthetic, biological and ambient values of the park, and that the seedlings meet the standards and quality, and that they are appropriately anchored during planting. During the execution of the works, it is necessary to provide a location where the works are carried out, in order to limit the movement of visitors and protect people and property, and upon completion of the works, remove excess material and restore the surrounding area to its original condition. A report on the work carried out, which includes a narrative description and photo documentation (photographs taken during the execution of the works and after the planting has been completed) should be drawn up and submitted to the client in analog and digital form (one copy each) with an invoice upon completion of the works," the tender stated, among other things.
The assumption is that the seedlings, which are dry and in poor condition, experienced stress during maneuvering and planting, which is generally recognized as a greater risk for larger seedlings. Also, extreme heat is a significant factor...
IRRIGATION SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONAL
The Municipality of Tivat confirmed to "Vijesti" that the automatic watering system for plants in the Great City Park, for the purchase and installation of which, on an area of over 19.000 square meters, the local government allocated 2024 euros in 81.628, is currently not functioning. They believe that the main cause of this is the work on planting new trees in the park, carried out by "Ekoplant".
“The irrigation system in the Great City Park is currently not in operation. It is almost certain that the damage was caused during the work on planting plants, and damage is also common as a result of vandalism. Namely, during the construction of the irrigation system, minor deviations in the routes of small-diameter pipelines occurred (due to the root system of trees, the size and position of which could not be accurately predicted during the design), which were ultimately not recorded, which led to minor damage when digging the planting holes. Although some of the damage was repaired simultaneously or after planting the plants, additional repairs, inspections and commissioning of the system are required. It is planned that the irrigation system, after quite lengthy and complicated, legally prescribed administrative steps (public procurement procedure), will be put into operation as soon as possible, at the expense of the Municipality of Tivat. The funds planned for this purpose amount to 2.500 euros + VAT, which, in addition to the aforementioned necessary repairs, also includes regular maintenance of the irrigation system, controlling its functionality and carrying out necessary repairs in the period from "90 days from the date of signing the contract," explained the Secretariat for Spatial Planning.
They emphasized that during the repair of the system and its further maintenance, "all deviations in the pipeline routes that occurred during construction will be recorded, so that similar problems do not occur in the future."
"Additional training will also be provided to employees who manage the system, to make its functioning as efficient as possible."
See more:
Download the app and follow the news
FOLLOW US ON
