TWO people have been sentenced to prison for one and two years, respectively, and ordered to pay 1.44 million yuan (US$208,799) in compensation for seriously damaging the ecological environment of Yangtai Mountain by felling trees.

The verdict handed down recently by Nanshan District People’s Court said the two defendants, Yang and Zhang, began planning to fell low-value trees to plant agilawood saplings in the forest near Zhang’s orchard in Makan Village in March 2016.

Yang was responsible for funding the project and planting, while Zhang was responsible for coordination and handling disputes with villagers in Makan Village. The two shared the profits.

The felling lasted until the end of 2016, and 1.16 hectares of trees, or 749 in total, were cut down. They then planted 5,175 saplings in the State-owned forest in 2017.

Some reports in April last year exposed two illegal structures that had been built in the forest half way between Makan Village and the top of Yangtai Mountain, which straddles the borders of Bao’an, Nanshan and Longhua districts.

More than 2,500 trees, including saplings, had been felled to make way for the two illegal structures that covered 300 square meters.

The media reports triggered public outcry over the illegal structures and damage to the ecological environment.

The urban administration authority later dismantled the illegal structures, while the Shenzhen Municipal Forest Public Security Sub-bureau investigated the case and held the two suspects responsible for damaging the environment.

The two suspects were arrested last July, and they pleaded guilty at the trial this February.

(Han Ximin)