The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development reported the "Chengdu Guihua Lane Tree Cutting Incident": barbaric construction, indiscriminate logging

On the 24th, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development reported on the problems related to the cutting down of urban trees in the Guihua Lane Comprehensive Improvement Project in Qingyang District, Chengdu. The circular pointed out that recently, in the course of implementing the comprehensive improvement project of Guihua Lane in Qingyang District, Chengdu, there were incidents of cutting down urban trees and destroying urban scenery in violation of relevant laws and regulations, which caused widespread concern in society. In order to guide all localities to learn from each other and take it as a warning, implement the new development concept in urban construction, strengthen the protection of urban trees and the management of urban style, and effectively improve the living environment. The relevant information circular is as follows:

Chengdu Qingyang District Guihua Lane comprehensive improvement project is the fourth phase of the organic renewal project of Shaocheng Area, the project content includes power line to the ground, road transformation, building façade improvement, landscape greening improvement and other content, the plan was approved by the Qingyang District Government. Within the scope of the project, there were 143 trees of various types, and a total of 84 trees were relocated during the implementation process, and 31 trees (including 20 osmanthus trees) were cut down, and the remaining 28 trees were left. After verification, the project did not issue an announcement in advance to solicit public opinions, the matters involving urban trees were not submitted for approval in accordance with the procedures, the regulatory authorities did not perform their duties in place, and violated the relevant provisions of the Urban Greening Regulations, as well as the Notice of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and the National Development and Reform Commission on Further Strengthening the Management of Urban and Architectural Features (Jianke [2020] No. 38), the Notice of the General Office of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development on Effectively Strengthening Historical and Cultural Protection in urban renewal and Transformation and Resolutely Stopping Acts of Destruction (Jianban Kedian [ 2020] No. 34) relevant requirements, barbaric construction, indiscriminate logging, causing damage to the urban ecology and living environment, urban characteristics.

After the incident, the Chengdu Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government attached great importance to it, immediately ordered the project to stop work and rectify, deal with the relevant units and responsible persons of project construction, construction and supervision in accordance with laws and regulations, and learn from each other, and carry out the relocation of trees at the construction site throughout the city to prevent similar problems from happening again.

All localities should deeply study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, deeply learn lessons from the reported cases, strictly implement the "Urban Greening Regulations" and other regulations, implement the relevant requirements of Jianke [2020] No. 38 and Jianban Kedian [2020] No. 34 documents, and strengthen urban tree protection and urban landscape management.

The first is to strengthen the management of urban and architectural styles in key areas such as natural ecology, history and humanities, and landscape sensitivity, and improve the relevant design norms and management systems for cities, neighborhoods, and buildings. Take super-large public buildings, super-high-rise landmark buildings, and key lot buildings as the focus of urban and architectural style management, strictly review the design plan, and prevent damage to urban style.

Second, when carrying out urban renewal, infrastructure transformation and upgrading, and the transformation of old urban communities, it is necessary to correctly handle the relationship between new and old, change and retention, strengthen the protection of historical and cultural relics and landscape features, do not demolish historical buildings, do not demolish traditional houses, do not destroy topography, and do not cut down old trees, so as to ensure that urban areas and buildings with protection value are effectively protected.

Third, for projects involving the relocation or felling of urban trees, it is necessary to proceed from the perspective of overall protection and renewal, fully demonstrate the feasibility, so that ancient and famous trees are not migrated in situ in principle, other trees are less relocated, and excessive pruning and cutting of migrated trees is strictly prohibited.

Fourth, for construction projects that really need to be relocated or cut down, it is necessary to go through the examination and approval procedures in strict accordance with the relevant regulations, publicize the construction (transformation) plan in advance, solicit public opinions, consciously accept social supervision, ensure that urban trees are effectively protected, and implement the urban style management work in a down-to-earth manner.

(Editing by Shao Xiwei)