South China Metropolis Officials Punished for Mass Felling of Banyan Trees

Authorities in the southern city of Guangzhou punished the city’s deputy party chief and nine other local officials for mass tree felling, after the release of a document by the provincial government that urges green protection in the course of urban development.

Five of the officials — including the city’s vice mayor and head of the forestry bureau — were removed from their posts, while the deputy party chief was disciplined for negligence (link in Chinese), according to a statement issued by local anti-graft authorities. Late last year, a large number of trees in the city including many native banyan trees, were felled during construction projects, according to media reports.