Official Dismissed and Three Suspects Arrested Following Illegal Tree Felling Incidents in Egypt

Minister of Local Development and Environment Manal Awad took decisive action on Tuesday by dismissing al-Sayed Hamza from his position as head of the Desouk Center and City in Kafr el-Sheikh Governorate. The dismissal came in the wake of an investigation revealing that multiple trees had been unlawfully cut down near the Edfina Barrages. Minister Awad also referred the entire matter to the competent investigative authorities, coordinating closely with the Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation to ensure all responsible parties face accountability.

Public outrage erupted after images circulated online showing workers cutting down mature trees near the Edfina Barrages in Metoubes and loading them onto a pickup truck for suspected sale. Following his removal, al-Sayed Hamza defended his position, stating that the Edfina Barrages fall under the direct jurisdiction of the Ministry of Irrigation rather than the city council. He claimed he had no authority over the site and clarified that a pruning committee from the Irrigation Directorate had cut down 53 trees within the barrages area between September 1 and 8, transporting them to the Directorate's warehouses prior to the Cabinet's ban on tree felling. The issue only gained widespread attention after citizens shared photos and complaints on social media.

In a related development, security forces from the Gharbiya Security Directorate successfully apprehended three suspects accused of felling a massive tree near the al-Mahalla Industrial School in the First District of al-Mahalla al-Kubra. Following a report filed by the district administration, the Director of Gharbiya Security deployed an investigative team that utilized surveillance footage to track down the culprits. The investigation identified the perpetrators as a timber merchant, a retired local government employee, and a residential building watchman who conspired to cut down the tree for commercial profit. Detectives arrested the suspects and referred them to the appropriate judicial authorities for legal proceedings.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture issued a statement denying reports of tree removal at the Fish Garden in Zamalek, confirming that all vegetation remains healthy except for a single tree that fell due to the natural conclusion of its lifespan.