I really hate how trees are not given enough importance in Kuwait. Everywhere else in the world the planting and growing of trees is encouraged but here in Kuwait we cut them down, dig them out or landscape the hell out of them until they look “cute”. Yesterday a friend of mine living in Salwa told me about how the authorities came into Salwa and started destroying trees planted on government property. I thought that was very sad until I saw some pictures a forum user posted and now I’m furious!
I’ve seen the same thing happen near my place in Salmiya. There was a parking lot that had planted trees on the pavement around the lot and the authorities came and cut the trees and left. The square sand boxes where the trees used to be are still there just without the trees. Whats so bad about planting trees on government property? Why can’t the trees be left alone?
Thanks Ramez for the pictures!
35 replies on “Leave those trees alone!”
its very sad, especially because government should know that planting trees is one of the most effective ways to slow or even stop desertification…
Yep, it has been happening for a while now. If the area where the trees were was going to be used for some purpose – I would understand. But Just destroying them and leaving the area empty is just wrong. My understanding from talking to people is that palm trees around residential areas are the only ones “protected” by decree. All others are fair game.
The late Amir (Shaikh Jaber), encouraged making kuwait a green country, ever since that speech, houses, play grounds, government, non government property was zesty green. That was then.
wonder why cruelty is up in stock nowadays.
Yeah, so sad! this place is near of our flat in Salwa. This spot used to be cool during noon because it’s shaded, now it’s so da*n hot. 🙁
Why not carefully transfer this trees (or any trees that obstruct?) into another place instead of destroying it completely.
The government hates trees. They preffer the fake bright colored ones that turn into a lighting spectacle at night and in some cases double as a communications cell. Other than that it preffers to give people fire wood. You know for all those fireplaces we have at home. Green…. Yuck. I think some top government official pukes everytime he sees green. I heard he likes red skies. He thinks it’s cute.
Ditto here; I live in Salwa, Bl10, and we have witnessed this so called Demo Drive targetting unathorised pavements by house owners where they also had trees rooted in those very illegal structures! Guess what?
The dumbasses demolished everything and chopped the trees; maybe in excess of a dozen tress or so. They have these MHE Bulldozers parked on an open ground near the local farah; their very sight is intimidating.
Riles me, to say the least!
You should see the artificial grass being used all over Kuwait. Sad…real sad…
Wasn’t t here a drive to plant a million trees in Kuwait? What happened to that project?
No wonder everybody is so sick and tired (literally) in Kuwait all the time – lack of oxygen.
Let me start talking about the penalties of cutting the trees outside Kuwait:
USA: Up to $15,000 penalty from town for cutting trees depend on the tree age and tall.
UK: Up to $5000
Australia: also up to $5000.
and all of these penalties even if its located in your own garden. and also you will attend a court and you need to add another one in a different location.
Tree may take from 7 to 15 years to grow up to reach 200 CM.
That was in Salwa, during removing the exceeded items from the country properties.
And you may see it every where, in Bayan, Sobhan, Al Zahraa, Al Jaberya & many.
Removing a tree is a large decision that should not be taken lightly. Dead or dying trees should be removed for health, safety and aesthetic purposes. However, in certain instances live trees also should be removed when they interfere with other trees, buildings, driveways and utility wires. But think twice, as it takes years and often decades to replace a tree once remove.
In the desert across from Bneider Chalets, a family friend planted tens of trees and grass and other plants just to make the place greener and pleasing for the people that pass by (It wasn’t even on his chalet side!)Unfortunately, the demolition committee came and demolished all of it, and left everything lying as it is!! Ye3ni seriously!?! They have pics and stuff of how it looked like before and now… and no sane person would think Kuwait is better off like that. If you want to demolish the greenery, at least have the decency to cleanup after you! That’s just sad. very very sad!
This makes absolutely no sense and is truly a crime against the environment and an insult to intelligence and common sense. If the trees are not bothering anyone and beautifying Kuwait, why remove them?
Well, I read a story recently where some MPs criticized Mohammed Al-Bader, who is Head of the Committee to Remove Encroachments on State Property. Do you know what they said? They asked the Kuwaiti people to look into who owned the company contracted to take care of the demolition work – does anyone want to take a wild guess as to who that could be? Could it be the head of the committee himself? Hmmm… Pretty convenient being the head of the committee to destroy God’s gifts and owning the company that does it too.. I’m assuming the more he takes down, the more he gets paid. How horrible, most of these trees make Kuwait a more beautiful place. It’s just sad and someone should say or do something about it.
https://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=ODMwMjM1Mzc3
We need some eco-friendly Terrorism.
They dug us up in Fintas about 6 months ago…………….doesn’t matter about tress replenishing the ozone and helping our ecosystem….DAMN the trees, they think, they are on GOVERNMENT land and that’s all that matters.Ooooh let’s put a few garbage tips there instead…after all who wants oxygen when we can have methane for free?
Usually trees are cut or uprooted if they are a hazard to the road traffic. Blame the municipality not the governament. Remember, there is no govt. Most of the examples stated are those of infringement of govt. property, plant as many trees as you like on your property not on govt. property.
On a positive note, did anyone write to the govt. about it? Or are we just venting off on blogs and its going on deaf ears?
The trees dug up on our street were RIGHT infron of neighbour’s property and not a traffic hazzard at all…………………….it bloody mindedness. In this day and age trees should be TRIMMED not uprooted and left to die on the side of the road….now THAT ( a pile of chopped wood ) IS a traffic hazzard!
To be straightforward, you cannot define traffic hazard to the public and see them respect the boundaries put forth (example: not planting a friggin’ tree on a corner/turn blindsiding people).
The green distribution of Kuwait should be put in the hands of a group road planners/engineers and environmental people.
What I’m saying, if you’re going to plant on your property- whatever, go crazy. But if you are going to plant on public property you’re opening the door to people exploiting and misusing that given privilege. So leave the public areas for the type of group I mentioned. Otherwise, expect those clearings of improper planting.
And good god, stop jumping on the train of “oh, cruelty to the trees”. Don’t plant them in inappropriate places to begin with, simple.
No safi- instad of pulling up trees and shutting down bacalas, the baladiya would be better off clearing the rubbish off the street corners, rounding up the stray cats and filling in potholes in the road………..it’s not about cruelty to trees, it’s about looking at something more aesthetically pleasing than corrogated steel and empty boxes for a change.
@ Safi … they can remove it without killing it, by a professional guys not by using a driver, and they can pull it up and planting it at another place.
BUT ,, Kuwait IS DESERT
@teach: Sure there are other things that can ‘also’ be taken care of; however, I was talking about trees planted in inappropriate places- obstructing the view of drivers. You don’t need to sidetrack from this topic, and render my point (which I’d like to stress, is “planting trees in places that obstruct the view of drivers”).
@Ramez: Also, sure, and I agree. Why not pull them out with their roots in tact and transfer them. I didn’t say anything condemning safe handling of trees. (sidenote: I don’t get what you meant by mentioning the obvious.Kuwait is a desert, and?)
@teach + Ramez: I sensed some accusatory vibes so just to clarify:
I am compassionate with plants
Haha, a penfriend of mine was looking up Kuwait on google map, and she asked me “why the hell are there no trees in Kuwait?”
I think I know the answer now. :l
I suggest we all go out and hug a tree today.
They’re doing this in Surra too!
Just shoot the idiot who ordered trees needed to be cut down in kuwait ….. we dont want idiots telling us what to do …. kuwait is a free country and when kuwaitis are trying hard to make the government land beautiful i dont see a problem with that unless its hazard to road traffic ….. why isn’t anybody doing or saying anything?!?
Baba Jaber i miss you 🙁
am not surprised…”we” hate & despise everything that is beautiful & meaningful. “we” are so distructive we get a kick out of it….just look around kuwait city & u’ll understand. tearing down beautiful historical buildings (near diabetes center by blagat), & raising up UGLY distasteful hideous repulsive so called buildings!!! disfiguring the skyline (except for a few ones…especially twisted bldg). the outer garden of my house has 35 years old trees…i hope they never come near them….i would chain myself to one. we need a NAZI city planner with good taste…otherwise kwuait will be one of the uggliest places to live in.
L.A.2Q8,
these are just allegations that everybody these days throws around, the bulldozers are government property and the employees are also working for the government… So is Mohammed Al-Bader!!
Only the MOJ can say whether this accusation is true.. until then the guy is innocent and should be supported for doing the right job.
Kuwait Govt. should go plant some trees where the 4th Refinery project was to be located.
looking at these pictures … makes my heart heavy
I respect government propert but if govt property is an empty piece of sand in front of someone’s house and they want to grow a palm tree or garden and beautify it – then what the bloody hell is the problem – its not like the government is goign to do anything with the empty piece of real estate anyway?
Destroying vegetations and trees like this is ‘haram’ as well (where are the cleric muftis now?)
There are simply too many trees in Kuwait people. I’m tired of seeing green all the time. How about a little beige for a change? And I really don’t want my car to be damaged by a falling branch.
There simply isnt ANY urban planning in Kuwait. How sad for one of the richest countries in the world. In the absence of booze, dancing, or decent weather, you’d think they’d get ONE thing right…
all of you are bunch of idiots, I bet none of you would feel the same about the what your gevenment is doing to the Bidoon. go visit Jilleb Alshayookh, Al Jahra, and other cities and see the slums of Kuwait, see how childern are starving.
Wake up and Take on a bigger cause……………..
nugster……caring for the environment is the subject being discussed. other issues are as important. so why dont u start a thread or a disucssion properly instead of insulting others!!!! have some respect.
I posted about the same issue on my blog recently.
https://desertgirlkuwait.blogspot.com/2009/06/kuwaits-scorched-earth-policy.html
It is SO sad what is happening all around Kuwait and no one seems to care!
I notice that their are still trees on the Kharafi side of the street.
Just keep planting trees, someone is going to stop sooner or later.
A bit late but still,
Life is a struggle.
Similarily to keep the balance in favour of greener Kuwait, you need to keep planting more trees at appropriate places and still there would be some unfortunate trees that get cut.