Published on Friday, February 14, 2025
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Residents of El Tirol, a community in El Monte District, San Rafael Canton, Heredia province, protested the cutting of 65 cypress trees, taking to the streets with banners and demonstrations. 

The protests began Wednesday, with locals urging the municipality to halt the removal of cypress trees, some more than a century old, located in an area designated as a biological corridor. 

The wildlife area, also referred to as a green corridor, links wildlife populations that have been fragmented by the residential zone, aiming to support vulnerable species.

El Tirol, situated in the mountains of Heredia, is home to wildlife such as sloths, white-faced capuchin monkeys, coyotes, raccoons and white-nosed coatis among others. The main street of the community, lined with cypress trees, is considered by residents to be part of their historical heritage. 

However, the area lacks a protected status and is not covered under Costa Rica’s Biodiversity Law (Law No. 7788), which safeguards wild areas in the country. 

According to the municipality, the tree removal is in response to a court order issued by the Agrarian Court following a complaint filed in 2021 by a Polish resident, Tkachenko. The court ruled in her favor, as she claimed the trees, located near her property, posed a safety risk. Tkachenko requested the removal of the 65 trees.  

Tkachenko, the property owner, asserts that the trees, which stand on the street’s borders, pose a risk to her home, situated on a lower slope. Jorge Santamaría, mayor of San Rafael, explained that the movement of the trees threatens both her property and her safety. 


Despite the controversy, the municipality is obligated to comply with the court’s decision. “It’s unfortunate for us because these trees are part of the canton’s historical heritage, but we are simply following a court order,” Santamaría said. 


In the past week, municipal crews have felled 15 trees. An additional 25 trees were cut in 2023, and 15 more were removed in 2022. In total, 55 cypress trees have been cut down since the court’s decision. 


In response to complaints from the El Tirol community, on Thursday Mayor Santamaría suspended further tree-cutting and announced plans to request a hearing with the Agrarian Court. 


The municipality also intends to file an appeal, seeking a new trial process that will include studies to assess the potential risk of retaining the trees. The appeal will also consider statements from residents and environmental groups advocating for the preservation of the biological corridor and the area’s natural and historical value. 

----------------
What are residents in your community saying about tree-cutting in residential areas? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com