USA: killed 180-year-old tree and fined $ 600,000

A couple from Sonoma, State of California,

United States,

he will have to pay a fine of nearly $ 600,000 for removing a 180-year-old oak tree.

Toni and Peter Thompson wanted to remove the tree and bring it to a property they were building in the area. But the tree is dead and the kidnapping has affected the ecosystem of the area where he was,
said the Washington Post.

The region is protected by law, a Sonoma County judge said in a ruling last month. The couple must therefore pay a fine of US $ 586,000. They will be used to restore the area.

The oak removal took place in 2014 and was detected by a neighbor, who pulled out and shared images of tractors and workers who removed the tree.

Then, the Sonoma Land Trust, which is dedicated to protecting the environment of Sonoma, sued the Thompsons.

"It was an apocalyptic scene," said the neighbors, witnesses of the event.

Meanwhile, Thompson's lawyer said his clients "feel that they could not properly present their case, they wanted the tree because of its beauty.