Tajikistan Boosts Fines for Illegal Tree Cutting Amid Urban Development Debate

In Tajikistan, authorities have raised the maximum fine for illegal tree cutting to nearly $10,000, signaling a tougher stance against the practice. However, this move comes as cities like Khujand and Buston grapple with the ongoing removal of mature trees to make way for new residential buildings.

The felling of established plane trees, maples, and acacias has led to the loss of vital shade, coolness, and the characteristic green appearance of urban streets. Lawyer and civil activist Dilrabo Samadova has publicly appealed to city authorities, urging them to reconsider construction plans that necessitate tree removal. She emphasizes that old trees are more than just greenery; they are essential for air quality, health, and the city's character, and cannot be replaced by young saplings in the short term.

Residents in Khujand echo these concerns, noting that the city has become less comfortable for pedestrians, particularly during the summer heat, following the removal of trees from central streets. Similarly, in Buston, a new apartment building is being constructed on a green space that residents had actively maintained for years. These instances highlight a growing tension between urban development and the preservation of natural elements within Tajik cities, prompting questions about who decides the fate of these trees and whether development can proceed without sacrificing them.

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It pains me to see mature trees being cut down in the old city. The very ones that provided shade in our 40-degree heat. That made the streets lively, soft, cozy… Old trees are not just green plantings. They are air, health, salvation from the heat, they are the character of the city. They cannot be restored in a year or two. New saplings will not replace the shade and the ecological role that mature trees played.