In French Polynesia, tree trimming professionals are ramping up their work as the rainy season approaches. Over the past few weeks, the pace of interventions has increased significantly, with some schedules nearly full until the end of November. This surge is due to a heightened cyclone risk, worsened by a strong El Niño weather pattern, which is prompting property owners to secure their assets before potential storms. The cyclone season in French Polynesia runs from November to April, a period known for chaotic weather with strong winds and heavy rain. This year, the risk of a Super El Niño could make the situation even more severe, with authorities expected to provide more details on the intensity in the coming weeks. Local governments are updating their emergency plans, while the French Polynesia Forces (FAPF), in collaboration with the Civil Protection Direction (DPC), have recently conducted aerial surveys above the valleys of Tahiti and Moorea to identify trees that could block water flow and trigger necessary trimming work. Tree trimming professionals are currently working at full capacity. Specialized companies report a significant increase in requests. "Over the past two months, we have had many more requests for quotes. We are practically full for the next two months. Usually, we have around two or three requests per week, but now we are up to a dozen. Currently, garden maintenance has taken a back seat: 80% of the requests concern tree trimming," says Maimiti Allain, secretary-treasurer at Fenua Élagage Jardinage, where hiring an additional employee is being considered. Similar trends are observed by Maheanu Tihoni, manager of Green Pro Tahiti: "Since August, we have had increasingly more requests related to the cyclone season for trimming or cutting down trees. We are a team of three, including a climber, and some projects can last up to four days. Tomorrow [Thursday, NDLR], we will go to Taravao where trees threaten to fall on a stream near a warehouse, with the risk of causing a flood." Individuals, businesses, schools, and other public services are all affected by this safety issue, in urban and rural areas alike. While rare, fatal accidents have occurred, such as those in Papeete, Tautira, Moorea, or Rikitea between 2024 and 2026. "The people who contact us prefer to anticipate. We can have up to three interventions per day, depending on the cut to be made. It can be branches or trees at risk near homes or areas of passage," explains Teiki Ebb, manager of Ofe Jardinage. Tree trimming and cutting down are done on a case-by-case basis, depending on the position and condition of the tree. "We have clients who regularly maintain their trees, but we also have clients whose trees have never been pruned, who contact us out of fear for themselves or because they have received complaints from neighbors," says Gauthier Salzard, co-manager of Tahiti Élagage. Certain species are more problematic than others. "It is often falcatas, Gabon tulip trees, or parasol trees, which tend to grow on slopes and break or uproot. These are invasive species that grow quickly but do not produce very structural wood. They are more sensitive to anomalies. There is also the case of trees that have been poorly pruned, which rot and weaken. The height tends to be scary, but cutting too much can also be counterproductive," continues the arborist-climber between two trimmings in Arue and Pirae. Most interventions are done with a harness, sometimes with a boom lift when the situation requires it. When cuts cannot fall to the ground, retention techniques are used. Overall, prices range between 20,000 and several hundred thousand francs depending on the volume and constraints of each intervention. "It has a cost, for sure, but better to prevent than to cure. Not taking care of your trees can lead to damages that would cost much more, like redoing your roof. I would also like to highlight the value of this job that we carry out with all our colleagues: logging and tree trimming is a dangerous job with several safety aspects to consider between height, tools, people, and property," says Teiki Ebb. Tree trimming is a demanding profession in French Polynesia, where the tropical climate supports abundant vegetation. At the scale of the territory, the project is indeed colossal: during strong weather, portions of roads are regularly blocked by falling trees. Although the problem is often resolved within a few hours without any injuries, the inconveniences can sometimes be longer lasting for users. Early this year, the Afaahiti highway was thus paralyzed for several weeks. Electrical cables and water networks are also frequently affected.