Severe damage caused by the rubber tree Tequendama (Ficus tequendamae Dugand) in downtown Bogotá

Abstract

The aim of this article is to analyze the urban tree planting from damages and benefits that planted species can generate in the public space and in the urban structures. A literature review about the rubber tree Ficus Tequendamae was made finding too much ambiguous information in the most widespread documents. The fieldwork was carried out in downtown Bogotá, Colombia and it evidenced that Ficus Tequendamae has been planted in inappropriate areas causing severe and expensive damages in many public spaces of the city. It is recommended not to promote Ficus Tequendamae as an apt specie to be planted in urban areas because a great number of architects, based on the sources published by botanists, plant this specie of rubber tree and then they have to be witness to the damages caused to their own projects and the urban structures. Expensive damages might be averted demanding that people in charge of urban tree planting work with scientific rigor.