City councilors have approved a draft to the 2013 Revenue Law which includes the proposed increase in sanctions. The current fine is between 1,150 and 9,880 pesos.
Under the new law, illegal deforestation will be divided into three classifications with incremental punishments. Cutting down trees outside private homes will result in fines of 3,000 to 10,000 pesos; doing so outside businesses or offices will bring fines of 15,000 to 45,000 pesos; and felling trees in sidewalks, parks or other public spaces the punishment will be from 50,000 to 100,000 pesos.The most recent case of “ecocide” took place on Avenida Lazaro Cardenas, where 139 trees were sawed down on August 4 and 5. Only 10 percent of the trees will recover, the Director of Parks and Gardens in Guadalajara said. It is suspected the crime was committed to increase visibility of billboards partially covered by the vegetation.