Tree Felling in Quito Carries Multi-Thousand Dollar Fines, Mandatory Replacements

The illegal felling of 210 native trees across three properties in Guamaní, south of Quito, has led to a staggering accumulation of fines totaling $1,036,300 for a single offender. This incident has refocused attention on Quito's regulations concerning the intervention and removal of the city's arboreal assets.

Under Quito's Municipal Code, specifically Article 4061, felling trees without the requisite technical report from the district environmental authority is considered a serious infraction. The standard penalty is set at 10 Unified Basic Salaries (SBU) per tree. With the SBU valued at $482 in 2026, this amounts to a $4,820 fine for each tree removed without authorization. The fines escalate significantly with the number of trees affected, as demonstrated by a previous sanction of $674,800 for the removal of 140 native trees in San Isidro Labrador, also in Guamaní.

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Talling trees without the corresponding technical report can represent a sanction of thousands of dollars for each specimen.

Beyond financial penalties, the regulations mandate a strict ecological restoration process. Article 4047 stipulates that offenders must plant a minimum of 10 trees for every single tree they have felled. In the Guamaní case, involving 210 felled trees, the offender is obligated to plant at least 2,100 new trees. These replacements must adhere to the specifications outlined in the Technical Manual for Urban Tree Management, ensuring ecological compatibility and survival.

The case highlights the severity of unauthorized interventions, particularly within protected zones. The properties in Guamaní are located within the Pichincha-Atacazo Special Intervention and Recovery Area (AIER) and possess land use designations for Ecological Protection and Natural Heritage Conservation. Inspections revealed the use of heavy machinery, including dump trucks, tractors, and backhoes, resulting in massive earth movements and the uprooting of native species like pumamaqui and sacha capulí. The extensive damage to trunks, branches, and roots rendered the felled trees irreparable.

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The offender must plant a minimum of 10 trees for each tree felled.