Egyptians fight to save tress, amidst city transformations in Cairo

Road construction projects have erased some of the oldest remaining green spaces in Egypt’s capital, Cairo. Pic/AP

A group of residents were led by Choucri Asmar in "a peaceful demonstration to protect the trees" of his Cairo neighborhood. Egyptian authorities were planning to clear out a large avenue of ficus, acacia and palm trees - part of sweeping urban redevelopment projects that are transforming much of historic Cairo. "It was like a war on green," Asmar said.

Asmar and other residents of Heliopolis numbered the trees lining Nehru Street, labelling each of them after famous Egyptian figures. Five days later, police took the signs down and Asmar got a warning from security officials.

Part of the adjoining park was razed to erect a stone monument commemorating Cairo's road and highways development, while a nearby public garden dating from the early 20th century was demolished to make way for a new street and gas station. Asmar said that between August 2019 and January 2020, Heliopolis lost an estimated 3,96,000 square metres (about 100 acres) of green space.

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