Nereta farmer found guilty over two felled oaks, ordered to pay €47,300

The Zemgale District Court in Aizkraukle, Latvia, has handed down a verdict in a criminal case over the felling of two large, protected-size oaks in Nereta parish. The court found farm owner Juris P. guilty, even though he denies wrongdoing. He was sentenced to two years of probation supervision and ordered to pay €47,300 in compensation for property damage. The ruling has not yet entered into force, so it can still be appealed.

What happened

Juris P. has run a farm in Nereta parish and has grown grain for many years. According to the source, more than eight years ago he decided that several oaks growing on his farm's land, outside any forest, were in his way. He told his workers to saw the big trees down, and they did. The State Police opened the criminal proceedings.

Workers' testimony

During the pre-trial investigation, the workers said they had found it odd to be told to fell such large trees. They had nevertheless relied on the assumption that the owner had all the necessary permits.

The rule on felling

Trees growing outside forests may be cut without municipal permission only if their trunk diameter is under 20 centimetres. The oaks on the farm's field were far larger than that.

This is a first-instance ruling, and the final outcome will depend on whether the verdict takes effect or is appealed.