Court suspends City gov’t tree transplanting

A judge ordered City Hall to immediately suspend all activity related to the planting, transplanting or removal of trees surrounding 9 de Julio Avenue, it was reported by court sources yesterday.

The ruling was issued by judge Guillermo Schleiber after hearing a presentation by former deputy and NGO representative Facundo Di Filippo. The judicial ruling was announced during a protest staged by residents, environmentalists and political party members yesterday afternoon between the intersection of 9 de Julio and Hipólito Yrigoyen where they displayed their opposition against “cutting down trees and the removal of green spaces.”

A petition demanding the complete suspension of construction work and the re-establishment of the pre-existing conditions on the 9 de Julio Avenue was circulated with more than 600 residents signing.

Neighbours and environmentalists denounced the Metrobus construction work, saying that it would lead to 1,440 trees being removed from the avenue. City Hall, however, denied the statement, saying that it would only lead to 305 trees being removed while 550 trees would be additionally planted. City Public Space and Environment Minister Diego Santilli said that they had made a careful study concerning each of the trees, claiming that City Mayor Macri cares for trees more than any other municipal leader.

In a case similar to this, in 2011 City Hall had ordered trees to be removed from Las Heras park enclosed by Las Heras and Coronel Díaz avenues in order to create an underground parking lot. After an outcry from the neighbouring residents, the city government only stopped construction after it was suspended by a judge calling for a review of its design plan.

Herald with DyN