The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) has announced that it will begin vine removal and woodland stewardship* at Guia Hill Municipal Park starting on March 18, with the first phase to involve clearing vines and removing wilted or dangerous trees, urging the public to avoid the area during the about 90-day project period.
According to an IAM statement on Friday, the seemingly green and wooded area of Guia Hill Municipal Park is in fact plagued by a high incidence of brown root disease, with its natural regulation and self-restoration having been, in recent years, disrupted by windstorm impacts. The extensive cover of invasive lianas, such as Hypserpa nitida, Pueraria montana var. lobata, Cassytha filiformis and Mikania micrantha, has prevented the trees there from obtaining sufficient sunlight for photosynthesis and inhibited the normal growth of understory** tree seedlings, leading to a continuous decline in the woodland area without any natural regeneration and ultimately resulting in the gradual loss of its ecological functions.
The statement noted that the bureau will launch vine removal and relevant protection work from March 18 onwards, with areas covering both sides of the trail with 33 bends on Estrada do Engenheiro Trigo on Guia Hill and the Guia Hill Fitness Trail.
The work will be conducted in phases, with each section measuring 50 metres. The vine removal and tree protection efforts are expected to be completed by mid-June, the bureau stated.
*Woodland stewardship refers to the responsible management and care of woodland areas to ensure their health, sustainability, and biodiversity for present and future generations. – DeepSeek
**The understory refers to the layer of vegetation in a forest or woodland that grows beneath the main canopy of trees but above the forest floor. - DeepSeek
This undated handout photo provided by the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) on Friday shows part of the woodland at the Guia Hill Municipal Park affected by lianas.
