POORLY DONE PRUNING THREATENES TREES IN SÃO PAULO

The scene is repeated in different neighborhoods of São Paulo: trees that previously formed shadows on the sidewalk appear with their crowns mutilated, branches cut on one side and trunks exposed to the sun. For many people, the image may just seem like poor maintenance. For experts in urban afforestation, however, this type of intervention could be the beginning of a much bigger problem.

The so-called predatory pruning, technically treated as drastic, mutilating or inappropriate pruning, is not just an aesthetic issue. It can compromise the health of the tree, reduce its stability and reduce the benefits that vegetation provides to the city, such as shade, thermal comfort and retention of part of the rainwater.

In São Paulo, municipal legislation defines drastic pruning as an intervention that prevents the natural healing of the wound, causes the tree to become unbalanced, fails to respect the correct branch cutting structures or removes a third or more of the crown. The same ordinance from the Municipal Secretariat for Green and Environment establishes that this type of pruning should only be permitted as a preparatory measure for the complete suppression of the specimen, within defined procedures.

What is predatory pruningImage credit: Rádio Antena 1

Correct pruning is a management technique. It is used to remove dead, diseased, broken, poorly positioned branches or those that are creating a real risk to people, properties, traffic or urban equipment. Predatory pruning occurs when the cut goes beyond the technical limit and turns a necessary intervention into an attack on the tree.

The São Paulo City Council's Technical Pruning Manual explains that the timing, type and intensity of pruning must consider the species, the tree's stage of development, its recovery capacity, the size of the branches and the structural balance of the specimen. The document also states that the removal of branches must follow appropriate technique to avoid injuries and allow complete healing of the bark.

In simple language: the tree does not "close" a cut like human skin. It isolates the injured area through a process called compartmentalization. When the cut is made at the wrong point, especially on large branches, the injury can become a gateway for fungi, bacteria and other agents that degrade the wood from the inside. The municipal manual advises that the technique preserves the crest and collar of the branch and uses the three-cut method in certain situations, precisely to reduce this damage.

Why cutting too much weakens the treeThe Technical Pruning Manual is straightforward in stating that removing too many leaves can undernourish the tree, reduce its growth and make it sick. The same excerpt highlights that the distribution of foliage also helps to distribute the weight of the branches and the wind pressure.

This detail is essential to understand why unilateral pruning - the one that cuts almost everything on one side, common when trying to move the crown away from the wiring - can be dangerous. By removing branches in an unbalanced way, the tree loses part of the architecture that distributes weight and wind. On stormy days, this imbalance can increase the strain on the trunk and roots.

The conflict with the electrical gridThe relationship between trees and wiring is at the center of the discussion. The City Hall states that the Subprefectures are responsible for managing trees on streets, sidewalks, squares and public roads. Enel, in turn, informs that it only works when there are branches close to or in contact with the electricity grid, and that this work depends on municipal authorization. The company itself advises that requests for pruning on streets and sidewalks should be made to City Hall via the website or by calling 156; In cases of risk involving the electrical grid, the channel indicated by the concessionaire is emergency assistance.

Municipal legislation also provides that public service concessionaires depend on authorization for pruning, suppression or transplantation of tree vegetation in municipal public areas. This authorization can occur through an agreement with the Municipality, which must provide deadlines, rules, compliance with the Municipal Urban Afforestation Plan and current management standards.

In practice, this is where the so-called "pushing game" arises. City Hall has already accused Enel of only complying with part of the preventive pruning plan in risky areas of the electricity network. A report from Folha de S.Paulo reported that, according to municipal management, the concessionaire had carried out 31,945 prunings out of a promised total of 282.2 thousand, equivalent to 11%; Enel responded that it had carried out around 230,000 procedures and attributed the divergence to flaws in the municipal counting system.

The dispute also appears in emergency situations. In January 2024, City Hall reported that there were dozens of trees fallen on wires awaiting action from Enel to disconnect the network, a necessary step so that municipal teams could safely remove trunks and branches.

When correct pruning turns into mutilation The City Hall's own manual recognizes that adequacy pruning can be used to resolve or alleviate conflicts between trees and urban equipment, such as overhead wiring, signs and lighting. But the text also recommends that, before cutting, the possibility of adapting urban equipment is evaluated - for example, replacing the conventional network with a compact, isolated or underground network, moving signs or adjusting lighting fixtures.

This point changes the logic of the problem. Instead of treating the tree as a permanent obstacle, the technical standard indicates that the city should seek to make infrastructure compatible with afforestation. Pruning, therefore, must be a technical and proportional solution, not a quick way to "clear the way" without considering the survival of the tree.

The city loses shade, comfort and protection When an adult tree loses a large part of its crown, the impact is not restricted to the plant. The street loses shade, the asphalt heats up more and the thermal sensation may worsen. Trees and vegetation help reduce heat islands through shade and evapotranspiration; They can also contribute to rainwater management by absorbing part of the precipitation and reducing surface runoff.

In a metropolis like São Paulo, this environmental service is especially important. Healthy trees help make sidewalks more walkable, reduce direct sun exposure, contribute to the urban landscape and provide shelter for wildlife. When pruning is drastic, all of these benefits diminish.

Who inspects and what are the punishments? The Municipal Green and Environment Secretariat is responsible for environmental inspection in the municipality, with complementary support from the Metropolitan Civil Guard in specialized environmental actions. The legislation determines that the offender is obliged to fully repair the environmental damage resulting from the conduct.

Fines vary depending on the type of infraction. Municipal Law No. 17,794/2022 provides for a fine of R$500 to R$5,000 per tree in case of inadequate pruning that causes imbalance in the specimen; for drastic pruning, the penalty ranges from R$1,700 to R$17,000 per tree. Values may be increased depending on factors such as recidivism, environmental relevance of the specimen, consequences for public health and the environment, and context of urban works or interventions.

SVMA Ordinance No. 51/2024 also establishes that, when a Subprefecture finds pruning that does not comply with the Technical Pruning Manual, it must notify SVMA and forward the process to the inspection sector.

How the resident can request an assessment or report For trees in public areas, such as streets, sidewalks and squares, the official channel is SP156. The "Tree - Request evaluation of a tree in a public area for pruning, removal or care" service can be requested via the SP156 Portal, through the sub-prefecture service centers, through Descomplica SP units, by calling 156 and via the WhatsApp chatbot informed by the City Hall.

After the request, the request is forwarded to the Projects and Works Coordination of the responsible Subprefecture. A technician evaluates the tree, and execution depends on the report and service schedule. The City Hall informs a maximum period of 120 days for this type of service.

In the event of a risk involving the electricity grid, Enel advises contact with its emergency channels. The company states that it operates in branches close to or in contact with wiring, within municipal rules and authorizations.

A new federal ruleThere is also a recent change in federal legislation. In December 2025, Law No. 15,299 was published, which amended the Environmental Crimes Law to allow pruning or cutting in risky situations when the environmental agency does not respond to the request within 45 days. The request must be accompanied by a report from a company or qualified professional; If there is no response within the deadline, the requester is tacitly authorized to hire professionals to perform the service. Outside of these situations, the rule that punishes anyone who destroys, damages, harms or mistreats ornamental plants in public places or on other people's private property continues to apply.

The change, therefore, does not allow for pruning on its own nor does it authorize improvised cuts. It reinforces the need for a technical report, risk situation and execution by a qualified professional.

What still needs to be heardThis is an issue that involves different responsibilities: City Hall, Subprefectures, SVMA, Enel, regulatory bodies, afforestation technicians, residents and contracted companies. The first conclusion is clear: an urban tree cannot be treated as a disposable obstacle. It is the city's living infrastructure.

The challenge for São Paulo is to build a management model that reduces the risk of falls and blackouts without turning pruning into mutilation. To achieve this, supervision, data transparency, integration between City Hall and concessionaire, qualified teams and urban planning capable of making trees, sidewalks and the electrical grid compatible are necessary.

Source: Antena 1