Earth-balling explained: 6 things you need to know about relocating trees

Hundreds of trees along Roxas Boulevard have become the focus of public debate.

- By JOYCE REYES-AGUILA

Around 245 have already been cut, while 355 more are scheduled for removal under a permit issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the Southern Access Link Expressway (SALEX), a project meant to connect the northern and southern corridors of Metro Manila.

For now, implementation is on hold as stakeholders review the process. Part of that reassessment, DENR said, involves determining how many trees can still be relocated rather than cut. That is where earth-balling enters the conversation: the practice of moving a mature tree with a ball of soil around its roots so it can be transplanted elsewhere.

The benefits of having trees in urban areas are being highlighted by recent discussions about the remaining trees identified for transfer along Quirino Avenue in Manila. The debate has also renewed calls for more trees to be relocated through earth-balling so they can continue supporting life and providing environmental benefits.

Earth-balling will likely remain part of the public conversation in the coming weeks. Beyond the term itself, what exactly does the process involve? Has it been done locally before? And how successful is it? Here are six things to keep in mind.

+ Why is it called earth-balling?