La Controversy over the illegal pruning of nine trees in the Las Garzas residential areaThe case in northern Guayaquil has now reached a closed administrative chapter. After several months of proceedings, the Municipality has imposed a financial penalty and established environmental remediation measures to compensate for the damage caused to the urban trees.
The case, which generated unease among residents and environmental advocates, dates back to last month. August de 2025, when a anti-technical intervention on nine ficus trees located in this citadel. The municipal investigation has confirmed that the work was carried out without authorization and outside the scope of local regulations regarding trees.
How the Las Garzas case was uncovered and what was found in the inspection
According to the information released by the Municipality of GuayaquilIt all began with a series of citizen complaints who reported very aggressive pruning of the trees in the Las Garzas residential area. These complaints prompted a technical visit from specialists of EP Parks and the General Directorate of Environment, responsible for checking the condition of the intervened species.
During that tour, the staff verified that nine specimens of Ficus benjamina had been subjected to a pruning considered drastic and illegal, carried out without the required municipal authorization. The reports indicated that the trees had significant structural damage and that a direct impact had been caused on the fauna associated with treeswhich uses these treetops as a shelter and feeding area.
Municipal authorities described the action as a unprofessional pruningThat is, carried out without respecting professional criteria for urban tree management, not following practices such as pruning cleaningThis type of intervention often weakens the specimens, reduces their life expectancy, and alters the ecological balance of the environment, something especially delicate in densely populated urban areas.
The technicians also pointed out that the damage is not limited to the visible part of the trees; such a severe intervention can cause physiological stress, stability problems, and increased vulnerability to pests and diseasesTherefore, the Las Garzas case was classified from the beginning as a serious violation of the urban tree ordinance.
Who is responsible and what financial penalty has been imposed?
Once the technical reports were compiled, the investigation fell to the Tenth Municipal Environmental Police Station of Guayas, responsible for determining responsibilities and proposing sanctions. After analyzing the file, the Police Station concluded that the The order to intervene in the nine ficus trees came from the administrator of the Las Garzas urbanization., who acted without legal backing.
The administrative resolution states that the intervention was carried out outside the procedures established by the Municipality, without application or pruning permitDespite the fact that the trees were urban and protected by ordinance, this lack of authorization, combined with the unsound nature of the work, was key in establishing the responsibility of the citadel's manager.
As a result, a fine equivalent to 14 Unified Basic Salaries (SBU)which amounts to around 6.580 dólares estadounidensesAccording to the released municipal documents, the financial penalty aims not only to punish the infraction but also to send a clear message to administrators, housing developments, and communities about the consequences of violating environmental regulations.
The Mayor's office has reminded everyone that compliance with the ordinance is not optional and that, in the event of any intervention on public or protected treesIt is mandatory to obtain permits and coordinate work with municipal technical services. Otherwise, they warn, they risk significant fines and demanding environmental remediation measures.
Replacement of 90 new trees as environmental compensation
Beyond the financial penalty, the Environmental Commission's resolution includes a measure that will directly impact the area's landscape: a Environmental compensation based on tree replacementIn accordance with Article 23 of the Urban Tree Ordinance, the sowing of ten adult trees for each affected specimen due to irregular pruning.
In practice, this means that, for the nine damaged ficus treesThe person in charge must guarantee the Planting 90 new trees in the area. The objective is to restore, as far as possible, the ecological functions that the affected specimens performed and to reinforce the green heritage of the citadel and its surroundings.
The compensation is not limited to "planting trees for the sake of planting them." The municipal authorities insist that these plantings must be carried out with adult specimens and suitable species to the urban environment, respecting technical criteria for location, distance between trees, and compatibility with infrastructure and services. Monitoring these new plantings will be key to ensuring the measure doesn't remain a mere formality on paper.
The Mayor's Office has taken advantage of the case to reiterate that this type of environmental compensation does not replace the obligation to manage green areas responsiblyRather, it is conceived as a form of redress once the damage has already occurred. In any case, they point out that if the procedures had not been followed, none of this would have been necessary.
Municipal reminder: pruning must be technical, responsible and authorized
After closing the sanctioning file, the Municipality of Guayaquil has sent a clear message to citizens, residents and administrators of housing developments: All interventions on urban trees must be technical.responsible and protected by lawIt's not enough to hire a crew and climb the branches; it's essential to follow municipal protocols.
Authorities insist that pruning, felling, or any type of tree management in streets, parks, or common areas requires express authorization from the City CouncilThis authorization is usually accompanied by instructions on the type of cutting allowed, the most suitable time of year to intervene and the necessary safety measures, both for people and for the trees themselves.
In the case of Las Garzas, the lack of authorization and the manner in which the work was carried out were determining factors in classifying the action as irregular. The municipality emphasizes that, although there may be legitimate reasons for intervening—for example, risks of falling branches or interference with power lines— Qualified personnel and the supervision of municipal technical services should always be used..
With this case closed, the City Council intends to set a precedent that will serve as a reference in similar cases. The idea is that anyone managing urban green spaces should be clear that if they bypass legal procedures, It is subject to both significant economic sanctions and replacement obligations which can be costly and complex to fulfill.
Why is it so important to protect urban trees?
Following the case of the illegal pruning of nine trees in Las Garzas, the council wanted to remind everyone that fundamental role that trees play in the city. Beyond their aesthetic value, urban trees improves air quality by filtering pollutants and suspended particles, something key in environments with heavy traffic and high human activity.
Trees also help regulate the temperatureby creating shade and reducing the "heat island" effect typical of large cities. In neighborhoods with sufficient wooded areas, there is a noticeable difference in perceived temperature during the hottest months, which impacts the well-being of residents and often results in lower air conditioning consumption.
Another aspect that the City Council emphasizes is the capacity of the tree mass to mitigate noiseacting as a natural barrier against traffic and other noise sources. Furthermore, trees help stabilize urban ecosystems, encouraging the presence of birds, pollinating insects, and other species that find shelter and food in the canopies and trunks.
For all these reasons, the municipal authorities emphasize that the urban tree population has specific legal protection And that the ordinances are not merely a bureaucratic formality, but a tool to ensure that these benefits are maintained in the long term. A poorly executed pruning, they remind us, can undo decades of growth and environmental services provided by a single tree.
The Las Garzas case makes it clear that when trees are altered without technical criteria or authorization, the consequences go far beyond the visual aspect of the street: Safety, ecological balance, and quality of life in the neighborhood are compromised.That is why the Municipality wanted to make this case an example of what not to do and how to act when regulations are violated.