Tree-choppping incident stumps JNF

Residents furious over loss of protected eucalyptus trees.

By MIRIAM BULWAR DAVID-HAY (TRANSLATED)
The Jewish National Fund and residents of Ra'anana are furious that a building contractor has cut down 10 protected eucalyptus trees from a small forest in the south of the city in an apparent breach of the law, reports www.local.co.il. A JNF official said the city had acted illegally by cutting down the trees without a special permit, and the matter could lead to criminal charges being laid against it. According to the report, the trees were cut down several weeks ago from a small but long-established forest popularly known as Haya'ar Hakatan (The small forest) and used by locals for picnics and nature trips. The JNF official said that after being notified that the trees had been cut down, he had visited the site and then called the contractor in for questioning. The contractor reportedly said the city's gardening department had instructed him to cut down the trees and the JNF official said he would question the municipal employees involved. "If their answers do not satisfy me, I will file a complaint against the city with police," he said, adding that the trees were protected and a special permit was required to remove them. "It must be understood that in this case the city has broken the law." A municipal spokesman responded that the city "constantly and professionally" looked after all the trees planted in Ra'anana to encourage their growth, but also to prevent their causing damage to pedestrians, cars or the environment. The spokesman said it was in this framework that "dry branches" had been cut from the trees, and that the city was "in the process" of obtaining permission from the JNF to remove dead trees that could be dangerous to the public. "Chopping down the trees will be done in full coordination with the JNF," the spokesman said.