Egypt has witnessed widespread criticism and escalating controversy over the removal of old trees in a number of areas, amid demands to stop cutting and study moving trees instead of removing them. The issue sparked parliamentary movements and criticism from activists and journalists who considered that the loss of trees exacerbates the effects of heat and pollution and affects the quality of life. Questions were also raised about the fate of the wood resulting from felling operations and the need to provide more transparency about these files.
While critics believe that these operations lead to a decline in green spaces and an increase in temperatures, the government confirms that it is at the same time implementing plans for afforestation and increasing the green area through the “100 Million Trees” initiative. Critics describe the operations of removing old trees in some Egyptian areas as “tree massacres,” in reference to the size of trees that were cut down during road development and urban expansion projects.
Popular criticism and publications on social networking sites
Posts on the X platform highlighted tree removal operations in different areas. In August 2026, the “Rasd” network published a blog post in which it said that the people of Dokki and Agouza in Giza Governorate had observed a “systematic process of cutting down old trees” in a number of main streets, wondering about the reasons for this campaign.
The issue also sparked widespread interaction among writers, journalists, and social media users, many of whom considered that trees represent an essential element in improving the quality of life and reducing the effects of heat within cities.
Environmental and parliamentary concerns
The House of Representatives entered the controversy through several parliamentary moves. Yesterday, Sunday, September 6, 2026, Representative Maha Abdel Nasser, a member of the House of Representatives from the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, submitted a parliamentary question regarding the continued felling of trees and the decline of green spaces in a number of areas.
Abdel Nasser said that some of the trees that were removed on Arab League Street in Giza were more than 50 years old, noting that perennial trees represent part of the visual and historical identity of the areas in which they are located. She also asked about the reasons for not studying the transportation of trees before removing them, instead of resorting to cutting them down.
Today, Monday, September 7, 2026, Representative Mohamed Abdel Hafeez, a member of the Agriculture and Irrigation Committee in the House of Representatives, submitted a parliamentary question to the government about the reasons for the continuation of what he described as “unjust cutting” of trees, demanding the disclosure of environmental studies that preceded the implementation of development and road expansion projects.
Voices warn of the effects of tree removal
In an article published in Al-Ahram newspaper today, Monday, September 7, 2026, writer Fawzi Abdel Halim considered that the scenes of removing trees on Arab League Street were unfortunate, noting that the per capita share of green spaces in Egypt is about 1.2 square meters according to data from the Ministry of Environment, compared to much higher global rates.
The writer believed that trees are not just an aesthetic element, but rather play an important role in producing oxygen, reducing heat, and improving the urban environment, calling for the activation of laws to protect trees and green spaces.
Researcher and writer Sameh Askar also wrote on the “X” platform that the phenomenon of cutting down trees was “one of the biggest mistakes of the era,” considering that trees directly affect air quality, temperatures, and the living environment of citizens.
Questions about the fate of timber
On the other hand, journalist Rania Badawi raised questions about the fate of wood resulting from tree removal operations. In a post on the “X” platform, she referred to international trade data on Egyptian charcoal exports during the period between 2022 and 2024.
At the same time, Badawy stressed that these data do not prove that the trees removed from the streets of Cairo or Giza turned into charcoal that was exported, but she called on the competent authorities to clarify the fate of the wood resulting from felling operations and to disclose the mechanisms for managing it.
The government emphasizes the expansion of afforestation
On the other hand, government agencies confirmed their interest in increasing green spaces. According to a statement by the Egyptian Council of Ministers on July 23, 2024, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly was tasked with planting traffic axes in Greater Cairo and the governorate capitals as part of the “100 Million Trees” presidential initiative.
Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad stated during the meeting that the number of trees planted within the initiative during the period from 2022 to 2024 reached 12.4 million trees. The Ministry of Environment also confirmed, in statements reported by Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper in June 2024, the continued implementation of the “100 Million Trees” initiative, which aims to plant 100 million trees within seven years.
Calls for a balance between development and the environment
Critics of tree removal believe that preserving old trees should be a priority when implementing road and urban development projects, while studying alternatives such as moving trees instead of cutting them down. On the other hand, government agencies confirm that development and afforestation plans are continuing, and that the state aims to increase the green area and improve the quality of life.
Among these different positions, demands continue for more transparency about the reasons for felling trees, their numbers, and the fate of the resulting wood, in order to achieve a balance between the requirements of development and preserving the environment.
Edited by: Tariq Ankay
