From all reasons stated in this series, in order to put down a tree, this one is the most perfidious. Face to face are two realities: “respect for nature” against “attachment to money”. Moral and ethics, the human soul itself, and the conflict between greed and altruism may be discussed here. But let us go to the facts first:
At the municipalities’ level:
There is a great amount of urban lots without trees in brazilian cities. These same cities miss Oxygen Producing Units (the trees), with their benefits: more fresh air and more thermal stability.
In the cities, there are also lots with few sparse trees. Sometimes these trees are cut down by the landowners under the excuse of “hindering the sale process”. And in most cases, the municipalities do not have any control, neither on planting trees, nor on putting them down.
At the citizen’s level:
Around a vacant lot, with sparse trees, neighbors are benefited from the shadow cast by one of them. Over the years they get used to the stable temperature it helped to keep. Suddenly they see the lot being sold and the tree put down without any convincing reason. Nothing will be constructed. The undeclared reason was the “hassle to keep a tree” and the “increase in value of the real estate”.
It is hard to convince some individuals that social well-being and environment conservation should be above immediate, money motivated interests. In order to change this sad situation, the making of laws, and their application, are necessary. To depend on the consciousness and good will of those who are solely focused on financial gains, would rarely lead to results.
Natura Futura 