From November 2006 and until the end of the last year, Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) had removed 55 thousand trees planted on the sidewalks, which were mainly olives, Washingtonia and other kinds of trees that are not suitable for the sidewalks.
Director of Construction Department in GAM, Mohamed Rahahleh, declared that GAM tendered last year to move 10,000 trees, and the proposal was completely implemented with rehabilitation works for the sidewalks.
He ascertained that GAM is still working on the project of making pedestrian friendly sidewalks, and that the rehabilitation works, pavement, and preparing the sidewalks do not need more that 100 days to be completed if the citizens cooperate.
He also mentioned that the sidewalks of two meter width or less shall have their trees removed and paved to provide wider and safer space for the pedestrians.
According to the Director of Parks Department at GAM, Nibal Qattan, a survey conducted in 2007 by the Public Security Directorate showed that 70% of pedestrians’ accidents are a result of walking on the roads (streets) instead of the sidewalks.
He further clarified that when GAM teams remove the trees, they cut them from their trunks, then the roots are moved to other places to be planted, noting that olive trees are the most suitable kinds of plants to be moved and replanted successfully, provided that the process be done according to a scientific method, namely, cutting all the branches and green parts before taking off the roots, upon replant, providing the tree with the proper fertilizers to support the roots first and to encourage the growth of the branches afterwards.
GAM initiated the project of sidewalks trees removal from the Capital streets after in-depth scientific field studies conducted in cooperation with the Public Security, and concerned educational institutions, namely, the University of Jordan, IT & Science University, the Association of Agricultural Engineers, and the Jordanian Environment Society.