205 trees of conservation concern cut down in Jonava, damage to nature reaches tens of thousands

An investigation has been launched after environmental authorities received a report that 205 trees of conservation concern had been cut down in several places near the Jonava quarry. The damage to nature amounts to more than €60,000. 

On 24 February this year, officials of the Department of Environmental Protection investigated a report of cutting down of trees near the Jonava quarry and found that 155 protected plantations had been removed illegally from the state land leased to the farmer: one willow tree, 47 birch trees, 107 pines. The damage to nature amounts to €53,103.  

On a nearby state-owned plot leased to a natural person, 50 protected plantations were illegally removed: 49 pine trees and one alder tree. The damage to nature is €14,418. 

The felling was carried out by a company hired by the farmer on both plots. A total of 205 protected plantations were felled, resulting in environmental damage of €67,521. 

The investigation material is currently being collected and will be forwarded to the prosecutor's office under Article 270(1) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Lithuania for the initiation of a pre-trial investigation. 

An additional inspection of other plots of land adjacent to the tenant farmer's land revealed that the company, while carrying out tree felling operations, also illegally cut down 10 protected plantations on state land. This resulted in damage to nature of €3 087

The company that carried out the felling and mistakenly confused the boundaries of the parcels and cut down the plantations will be offered to compensate the damage caused to nature in good faith, and administrative offence proceedings will be initiated. 

Remember that if you notice an environmental violation, you should call the emergency number 112. It is also important to take photographs or video of the violation, i.e. of the persons committing the violation, and send this information, photographs or video to info@aad.am.lt.