Translated by Jesús Ronquillo / Circuito Frontera
The indiscriminate felling of trees in the southern part of Parque Central, not only affects the appearance and functionality of the park, but also represents a direct threat to local wildlife, endangering the ecological balance of the area, denounced animal and environmentalists from Juarenses.
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The zootechnical agronomist Daniel Delgadillo Díaz, who is part of the Animal Movement of Ciudad Juárez and the group “Trees in Resistance”, denounced that for some time they have observed a neglect of the area, as well as suspecting that it could be linked to a commercial development plan within the Parque Central
This danger, according to the denouncer, is intensified by the massive felling of trees, since they are not only cut, but also extracted from the root, leaving the soil without the benefits that a stump brings to the health of the environment.
He pointed out that the main problem is for the local fauna, since during a tour of the area a hawk was spotted feeding on a pigeon, illustrating the importance of preserving biodiversity in the area.
In addition, the parque central is also home to spotted squirrels and other species that are part of the food chain, which are also endangered.
“We had already denounced the neglect of this area of parque central the southern part and we had imagined from the beginning that they were neglecting this part so that the trees would dry up and eliminate them to put a business here, a restaurant is what we have heard that they want to do here. So the trees have already dried up and now they are continuing with the felling, but they are not even leaving the stumps to enrich the soil; they are removing them by the roots,” he commented.
Delgadillo Díaz stated that this situation is worrisome, because despite the fact that this area is considered an ecological park, it is facing radical changes to satisfy what appears to be commercial interests.
He said that the southern area of the park has already suffered the felling of numerous trees, marked with orange tape to indicate their destination, many of which have been removed without leaving the trunk, revealing the intention to implement concrete structures in the area.
The activist stressed that it is important that the authorities take responsibility for what he considered to be ecocide, as well as that society act to stop indiscriminate logging and review the development approach for the Parque Central
“That serious, because here is an ecological park, it is a park that for environmental education here was the School of Agriculture previously and can not be given a commercial use as they are doing here. We can see a Sauco tree that is apparently dry, but this Sauco tree is green and resurfacing from below (…) here the irrigation is abandoned, however, the tree resists to die. They are being marked with an orange stripe to throw them away, but these trees resurface from below”, he pointed out.
He stated that one of the most worrisome aspects is the intention to convert the space into a business with cement slabs, which contradicts the nature and essence of the park, while the lack of reforestation is evidence that economic interests take precedence over the preservation of the natural environment.
In this context, an urgent call is made to the corresponding authorities to stop indiscriminate logging and to consider sustainable alternatives in order to protect the integrity of the parque central since it is an invaluable natural space that, in addition to its environmental importance, is part of the identity of Ciudad Juarez.
