The survey noted that the impact of cementing not only affected individual tree health but also had broader environmental consequences. Cementing practices often led to structural weaknesses, contributing to the eventual death of many trees (Raj & Sinha, 2018; Varma et al., 2022). Areas with extensive cementing around trees were found to contribute to soil erosion and increased risk of landslides, as seen in the recent Wayanad landslide incident, partially attributed to the compromised ability of trees to anchor soil effectively (Kumar & Yadav, 2023; Patel et al., 2023). As observed, cementing or paving around tree bases creates a sealed surface that severely restricts the essential processes. This phenomenon was particularly evident in trees exhibiting poor growth, reduced canopy cover, and increased susceptibility to diseases (Gupta et al., 2020; Reddy & Kumar, 2021; Sundararaj et al., 2019; Swetha and Padma, 2020). This practice leads to symptoms of drought stress and eventual tree mortality, which manifest in stages of deterioration, from tip drying (Stage 1) to complete tree death (Stage 4).

Trees’ inability to access water and nutrients due to the impervious layers of cement results in a weakened root system, making them more susceptible to diseases and structural failure. These findings align with previous studies that have shown similar outcomes in trees subjected to poor urban planning practices (Gupta et al., 2020; Reddy & Kumar, 2021). In addition, the survey revealed that such trees, deprived of adequate root space, also suffered from reduced canopy cover, which further decreased their ability to photosynthesize effectively, compounding their decline. Man-made physical damages intensify the decline in trees exposed to cementing practices (Singh & Singh, 2017; Sharma et al., 2019).The article from “The Indian Express” also expressed the brutality of mankind toward urban trees, suffocating them through cementation. It mentioned that while older trees with deeper roots can survive, younger trees would die due to drying out. The famous poet Gieve Patel stated in his poem “On Killing a Tree” that “it takes much time to kill a tree,” but unfortunately, urban people have reinterpreted this statement by causing a giant tree to fall during a slight rainy night (The New Indian Express, 2024).

Furthermore, the practice of numbering trees by removing the bark completely ignores the damage it causes. The impact of such damage on trees can vary depending on the species and their level of resistance to wood-deteriorating agents. However, over time, the trees become more susceptible to biodegrading agents and the hollowing of the main stem, leading to their fall (Sundararaj & Rajarishi, 2023). A study on the health status and mortality of Neem trees revealed that human insensitivity and insouciance, manifested through pruning, pavements, enclosures, concretization, and damage to the bark and stem from nailing and stapling, were the main causes of tree death. This, in turn, completely undermined the concept of sustainable and conservation practices for avenue trees (Sundararaj et al., 2024). The practice of cementing around urban trees not only threatens the longevity and health of individual trees but also has far-reaching consequences for the urban ecosystem as a whole.

Trees play a vital role in sequestering carbon, mitigating urban heat islands, and improving air quality. By compromising their health through harmful practices, cities risk losing the benefits provided by healthy, mature trees. Thus, we need to focus on achieving optimum conditions and sustainable practices by ameliorating some of these deleterious practices through a better understanding of tree physiology (Mullaney et al., 2015; Shibata & Tan, 2022). According to Ferrini et al. (2020), a suitable sustainable growth of urban greenery and trees is crucial for supporting, regulating, and providing ecological services to mitigate the deleterious effects of urbanization on humankind. This reinforces the need for sustainable urban planning and tree management strategies that promote permeable surfaces, adequate soil space, and tree-friendly infrastructure.

The survey underscores the critical importance of adopting sustainable urban planning practices that prioritize tree health. Urban planners, policymakers, and communities must recognize the detrimental effects of cement and collaborate to implement practices that allow trees to thrive, contributing to a healthier and more resilient urban ecosystem (Sundararaj et al., 2019; Swetha & Padma, 2020) and ameliorating some of these stressors through a better understanding of the optimal environmental growing conditions for trees, tree physiology, and the needed technological and design interventions.