Taipei Clarifies Warning Tapes on Trees Are for Safety, Not Removal

Taipei's Parks and Recreation Department has addressed public concern over red and white warning tapes appearing on street trees, clarifying that these are not indicators of impending removal. The department stated that the tapes serve as a crucial safety measure to alert road users, particularly drivers of large vehicles, to potential hazards.

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The warning tapes are used to remind road users to pay attention to traffic safety.

These warning tapes are deployed when street trees, due to natural growth, wind exposure, or leaning, extend into the required 4.6-meter clearance above roadways. This clearance is essential for the safe passage of various vehicles, including buses, trucks, fire engines, and ambulances, as mandated by urban road design standards. The tapes serve as a visual cue to increase driver awareness.

The department stressed its dedication to preserving the city's urban greenery, recognizing street trees as vital ecological assets that provide shade, cool temperatures, filter air pollutants, and enhance the cityscape. Their management principle prioritizes tree protection and public safety, ensuring that healthy trees are not arbitrarily removed. Instead, the tapes signal a need for professional assessment and potential pruning to restore safe passage.

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The setting of warning tapes is a safety reminder measure, and it absolutely does not mean that the tree has been determined to need removal, nor is it a 'tree felling mark.'

Officials refuted online rumors suggesting the tapes are a precursor to tree felling, labeling such claims as misleading and inconsistent with actual management practices. They reiterated a commitment to retaining and rehabilitating trees whenever possible, aiming to maintain a livable urban environment. The department urged the public to avoid spreading unverified information and to seek direct clarification from them on tree management matters.

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We always adhere to the principle of 'preserving what can be preserved, and restoring what can be restored' for tree maintenance, hoping that every healthy tree can continue to accompany citizens and create a livable urban green environment.