The new rules, recommended in a report from the territory’s environmental watchdog, aim to keep the public and local residents informed about plans for a tree’s removal and introduce a right of review for decisions to destroy a sick or dead tree.

The Government commissioned the interim report by Commissioner for the Environment Maxine Cooper after its urban tree renewal program was marred by fierce resistance from residents, particularly in older suburbs, and bitter criticism of the Department of Territory and Municipal Services for the way it conducted removals.

Experts predict that 20 to 40 per cent of the city’s 630,000 park and street trees will become a danger to the community and must face the axe in the next 20 years.

Dr Cooper’s report, compiled with senior technical adviser Dr Matthew Parker, made seven key recommendations, mostly aimed at making Territory and Administrative Services more accountable to the public in the removals process.

The report recommends that a policy of replacing trees as they are removed, whenever possible, instead of the present arrangement where new trees are planted only when nearby residents request it. There will also be a city-wide audit of opportunities or gaps where new trees can be grown, minimum standards of professional qualifications for TAMS tree assessors and clearer language to be used to explain the status of trees.

The Government has also agreed that a TAMS senior manager must approve non-urgent removals and that signs be posted warning of a removal and the three homes nearest to a tree earmarked for the axe be letterboxed.

For more on this story, see the print edition of today's Canberra Times