Singapore legislation
Clause 5
Clause 5
Restriction on felling or cutting of any tree having a girth of more than one metre
(1)
Subject to the provisions of this Act, no person shall, without the written permission of the Commissioner, fell or cut any tree, with a girth exceeding one metre (three feet and four inches), growing on any vacant land or such other land as the Minister may, by order published in the Gazette, designate except where —
the felling or cutting is for the prevention of imminent danger; or
the felling or cutting is in compliance with any obligation imposed by or under any written law.
(2)
For the purposes of subsection (1), the girth of a tree shall be measured half a metre (one foot and eight inches) from the ground.
(3)
Any person who fells or cuts a tree in contravention of subsection (1) or who wilfully causes the death or destruction of a tree to which that subsection applies shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars.
(4)
Where in any proceedings for an offence under this section —
it is proved that a tree was felled or cut, it shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, that the tree had been felled or cut by the occupier of the land on which the tree was growing; and
a question arises as to whether the girth of a tree measured half a metre from the ground exceeds or does not exceed one metre (three feet and four inches), a certificate purporting to be signed by the Commissioner and certifying the girth of the tree and that he has examined the tree shall be admissible as evidence of the matters stated therein without proof of the signature of the Commissioner to such certificate.