Woman Destroys 40 Trees Planted by Volunteers in Curitiba

On Monday, a woman was recorded by security cameras destroying 40 trees planted by volunteers in Curitiba. The trees were located on the central island of Avenida Nossa Senhora da Luz. Footage shows the woman parking her car and walking alone toward the garden area where the plants were situated.

According to the visual evidence, the woman proceeded to uproot some of the trees while cutting down others intentionally. The destruction targeted the work of the Um Milhão de Árvores collective, which had organized the planting in early December to raise awareness about climate change and urban care.

The collective discovered the damage and subsequently registered a formal police report. The group expressed deep shock regarding the incident, noting the dedication required to plant the trees and the emotional impact of seeing their work destroyed in a single act.

The destruction of the trees involved significant environmental loss, specifically regarding protected species. According to the Um Milhão de Árvores collective, 11 of the 40 destroyed trees were araucárias.

Araucárias are a species protected by law in Brazil. Consequently, the destruction of these specific trees can be classified as an environmental crime, which is subject to substantial fines under current legislation.

The incident highlights the vulnerability of urban reforestation efforts. The collective had planted these trees to benefit the local environment, making the intentional destruction a setback for their ecological goals.

The Um Milhão de Árvores collective responded to the vandalism by returning to the site on Thursday to repair the damage. They worked to replant and restore the area where the woman had destroyed the vegetation.

Regarding the emotional toll, collective member Luciano Padilha stated: "A gente ficou muito chocado. Os membros do coletivo alguns chegaram a chorar ao ver essas cenas, do trabalho que a gente fez, com muita dedicação, para conscientizar sobre as mudanças climáticas, sobre o cuidado com a nossa cidade, e depois vem essa situação de uma pessoa destruir um trabalho de um coletivo inteiro."

Political support for the collective also emerged following the incident. Laís Leão, a City Councilwoman representing the PDT party, took official action. She protocolou (filed) two formal requests to the Guarda Municipal and the Secretaria de Meio Ambiente (Department of the Environment). These documents requested immediate inspection and measures related to the case to ensure accountability for the destruction of the public garden.