'Massacre' of trees in Cairo triggers national uproar

In Cairo's Jamaat El Dewal El Arabiyah road, a once-bustling thoroughfare, authorities recently demolished trees to expand the roadway and construct new overpasses and buildings. This act of tree-felling has sparked outrage across the nation, with critics branding it a "massacre" and demanding an end to further tree-cutting. Environmental activists argue that the loss of these ancient trees, some of which are over 100 years old, squanders decades of environmental value that cannot be replicated with younger trees.

The government maintains that the felling is necessary to accommodate the city's rapid expansion and modernization. However, critics contend that better planning could have preserved the trees, and some suggest financial gain from selling the wood as charcoal may have been a motive. The scale of the tree-felling, occurring during Egypt's construction boom overseen by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, has led to unprecedented public outcry, particularly on social media platforms.

President El Sisi has since intervened, announcing that all open spaces in Cairo must be greened and vowing to increase the number of trees and green spaces in the city.

The Ministry of Environmental Affairs has also taken action, instructing local councils not to allow tree-felling except with proper authorization. Environmental Minister Manal Awad has directed provincial governors to report on the implementation of a nationwide tree-planting initiative, which aims to add 100 million trees to Egypt's landscape.