350-year-old trees being destroyed in Foros Park in occupied Crimea

The destruction of relict trees, estimated to be 350 years old, continues in Foros Park, temporarily occupied Crimea.

"This is what happens in Foros Park, a monument of landscape art: at the end of December, a relict Red List tree – a common yew – was destroyed again. The thickness of the trunk is 50 cm, its age is estimated to be 300-350 years old," the Foros Park website informs.

It is noted that "several more trees in the park have been marked with ribbons, they are likely to be destroyed in the near future."

According to the Foros Park website, no more than 3,000-4,000 common yews are now left in Crimea though it was quite a widespread relict plant on the peninsula.

Founded in 1834, Foros Park is a landscape park in the urban-type settlement of Foros. Its area is 70 ha, of which 30 ha are covered with cultivated plantations, and 40 ha – forest park area. The park is considered a monument of landscape art.

The Russian occupiers began cutting down rare trees and rolled out construction works there. In particular, the construction of a children's camp began in Foros Park in January.

In total, according to activists, the occupiers plan to build in the conservation area 90 facilities, including two hotel buildings, 11 guest villas, a yacht club, a diving center, a multi-level parking lot, three dormitories, a sports complex with an ice rink and more.

The Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol opened criminal proceedings over the construction works initiated by the occupation administration in Foros Park in Crimea. The actions of the occupation administration were qualified as violations of the laws and customs of war (Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).