“There are several known and high-profile cases of damage to and destruction of noble trees where the perpetrator is identified and penalised. For example, in 2017, the maximum fine was imposed for felling a large oak in Valle parish, and recently an appeal has been received in the Vaiņode noble lime tree case, where the court of first instance imposed both a fine and community service,” the Nature Conservation Agency states.

The illegal felling of a noble tree in Mārupe is currently being investigated by the police, who are searching for the culprit.

As the State Police informed the Delfi portal, between the beginning of 2011 and 8 November of this year, 4,268 criminal proceedings were initiated for the unauthorised felling and damage of trees, 166 of which were started this year.