Cutting down trees…
So I have been really busy with life…it has just been sneaking up on me. I have been neglecting the blog for quite some time now, which bugs me because I think about it a lot. So here goes, I have a few extra minutes, I am going to just do a little filler.
My company was recently given the administration of another building, Las Margaritas on 25th and 22nd. One of the first complaints we got from the owners was a dead tree in the middle of the parking lot, a “Huaya” it is called. The tree is actually two trees, one large and very dead tree with a smaller live tree growing up from the roots.
In one of my past lives I learned how to cut down trees responsibly and even got a certificate from the forestry department that says I am allowed to do so, so I figured no problem, just knock it down. When I brought the idea up to the Val, who is now maintaining the gardens around Margaritas, he said that I can’t because it is protected.
I know that Val is full of useful knowledge but I was skeptical about his grasp on local botany law, but I figured I should ask around anyway. I asked a few people and they all confirmed to me that I cannot just knock a tree down, I have to ask permission. The rumor even came out that I would have to plant two trees in place of the one that I cut down, which sounded like a fair proposal to me, I like trees.
So I wrote a letter (Mexico is big on letters) to the director of the department of environment here in Playa Del Carmen asking to cut the tree down, explaining that it was a risk to public safety and an eyesore that detracts from the aesthetic beauty of Playa Del Carmen. I attached some pictures of the offending tree to the letter and marched down to Medio-Ambiente (the environmental dept.) in city hall.
Medio-Ambiente is located in the same office as Desarollo Urbano, so I was familiar with the office and the girls behind the counter are always very helpful to me. I showed them my letter and my pictures, somebody went in the back office for a while and returned with the in-house biologist. The biologist looked at my letter and my pictures and we chatted for a few minutes, then she told me that my permit was approved, I would just have to wait for them to draw it up.
I waited about a week and finally received an email telling me that I could pick up my permit, I went down to the office today and got it. I was absolutely amazed at how easy this process was, I was expecting a hassle.
