Larnaca, Cyprus. Concerns have been raised over the condition of the historic palm trees on Larnaca’s Finikoudes promenade after they were heavily pruned.
Dr Marios Kyriazis said the Washingtonia robusta palms, planted 106 years ago by his grandfather Neoklis Kyriazis, had been left with only three or four leaves each.
Concerns over tree condition
In a social media post on Thursday, Kyriazis said he was alarmed by the trees’ appearance following the recent pruning.
“I saw them in such a state, stunted with only three or four leaves each, and I was afraid that we would lose them,” he wrote.
Kyriazis said the palms are pruned in a similar way each year but that he had sought further information on the possible effects of extensive trimming.
Potential risks cited
Citing information he said he had received, Kyriazis said removing most of a palm’s foliage could place it under severe stress by reducing its ability to produce nutrients, slowing recovery and weakening its structure.
He also raised concerns that excessive pruning could make the trees more susceptible to pests, including the red palm weevil, which has caused significant damage to palm trees across Cyprus.
According to information shared in his post, leaving only three or four leaves could weaken the palms’ natural defences and increase the risk of structural failure during severe weather.
Call for review
Kyriazis said an open letter had been sent to Larnaca mayor Andreas Vyras, calling for the maintenance practices used on the historic trees to be reviewed.