Forest felled over Arbor Day weekend

Forest felled over Arbor Day weekend

• Source: Global Times
• [09:28 March 15 2011]
• Comments

Workers load felled trees onto trucks outside Huantie Art City in Chaoyang district Sunday.

By Yang Jie

Artists in a Chaoyang art complex expressed concern over the massive destruction of nearby trees this weekend during China's Arbor Day (March 12), while forestry authorities continue investigations into the legality of the tree removal.

"I was heartbroken to find the trees had disappeared overnight," said a painter surnamed Li at the Huantie Art City near Dashanzi, Chaoyang district. "It used to be an ideal spot for photographers and film directors."

At least 200 trees with an average diameter of 30 centimeters could still be seen lining a road leading to the art city before Saturday, China's Arbor Day, according to Li.

She told the Global Times that trees on the left side of the road had all been cut down and were being transported when she arrived Saturday morning.

Removal continued on Sunday, with tens of workers felling trees with electric saws, while cranes and trucks carried away the logs, said Li.

Not a single tree was left as of Monday, with only some small, scattered branches remaining on the ground.

"It's ridiculous that they were brutally destroying trees rather than plant more on a tree-planting day," said Li.

"We were not cutting down the trees," manager of the art city's property management company surnamed Xue told the Global Times, "we were just trying to move them to another location."

A horse track is allegedly planned for the site, which has raised new concerns for local residents.

"The construction of a racetrack is underway, and I heard that a horse-racing event will be held here in September," a grocer surnamed Ye at the west gate of the art complex revealed.

Ye was vacating his shop as of Monday, which he said will be torn down for the construction of bleachers.

Several other artists and a worker on the site echoed Ye, but could not provide further details about the racecourse.