Vilnius Strengthens Tree Protection, 20,000 Trees Included in High Compensation System
Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, has expanded its list of protected trees, adding approximately 20,000 trees to a higher compensation value system. This means that if these mature trees are felled with permission, a higher compensation fee must be paid; illegal felling can result in fines of up to hundreds of thousands of Euros.
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- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 20:56
- 🔍 Collected: May 7, 2026 at 21:02 (5 min after Published)
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter You Yao-ru, Vilnius, 7th) To preserve its green ecosystem, Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, recently expanded its list of protected trees, adding approximately 20,000 trees to a higher compensation value system. Developers who obtain permission to fell mature trees on the protected list must pay a higher compensation fee; illegal felling can result in fines of up to hundreds of thousands of Euros.
A press release from the Vilnius City Government recently stated that since Lithuania amended its Green Space Law in 2023, local governments can independently determine the replacement value and compensation standards for protected trees. Since Vilnius raised its compensation standards that year, it has so far included over 160,000 trees in its high-value protection list.
According to the press release, the Vilnius City Council added approximately 20,000 more trees to the protected list at the end of March, applying higher compensation standards.
According to Lithuania's Green Space Law, most mature trees with a trunk diameter of 20 cm or more, measured at 1.3 meters above the ground, are considered protected objects, including diverse tree species such as maple, oak, linden, pine, and ginkgo.
The Vilnius City Government gave an example: if a protected mature maple tree with a trunk diameter of 50 cm is approved for removal, a compensation fee of approximately 18,000 Euros (about 660,000 New Taiwan Dollars) must be paid. These funds will be used for tree planting and green space maintenance.
If trees are felled without permission, the penalty will be increased to 10 times the replacement value. For the same maple tree, illegal felling could result in environmental damage compensation of up to 180,000 Euros (about 6.6 million New Taiwan Dollars).
This system also applies to private land. The city government has sent letters to over 700 landowners regarding the newly added tree list, informing them of the compensation standards for protected trees on their land and reminding the public to confirm relevant regulations before land preparation or development.
In addition, the Vilnius City Government also provides an interactive green space map query system, making it convenient for the public to check whether there are protected trees with higher replacement values on their land and related management regulations by address. (Editor: Tang Sheng-yang) 1150507
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(Central News Agency reporter You Yao-ru, Vilnius, 7th) To preserve its green ecosystem, Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, recently expanded its list of protected trees, adding approximately 20,000 trees to a higher compensation value system. Developers who obtain permission to fell mature trees on the protected list must pay a higher compensation fee; illegal felling can result in fines of up to hundreds of thousands of Euros.
A press release from the Vilnius City Government recently stated that since Lithuania amended its Green Space Law in 2023, local governments can independently determine the replacement value and compensation standards for protected trees. Since Vilnius raised its compensation standards that year, it has so far included over 160,000 trees in its high-value protection list.
According to the press release, the Vilnius City Council added approximately 20,000 more trees to the protected list at the end of March, applying higher compensation standards.
According to Lithuania's Green Space Law, most mature trees with a trunk diameter of 20 cm or more, measured at 1.3 meters above the ground, are considered protected objects, including diverse tree species such as maple, oak, linden, pine, and ginkgo.
The Vilnius City Government gave an example: if a protected mature maple tree with a trunk diameter of 50 cm is approved for removal, a compensation fee of approximately 18,000 Euros (about 660,000 New Taiwan Dollars) must be paid. These funds will be used for tree planting and green space maintenance.
If trees are felled without permission, the penalty will be increased to 10 times the replacement value. For the same maple tree, illegal felling could result in environmental damage compensation of up to 180,000 Euros (about 6.6 million New Taiwan Dollars).
This system also applies to private land. The city government has sent letters to over 700 landowners regarding the newly added tree list, informing them of the compensation standards for protected trees on their land and reminding the public to confirm relevant regulations before land preparation or development.
In addition, the Vilnius City Government also provides an interactive green space map query system, making it convenient for the public to check whether there are protected trees with higher replacement values on their land and related management regulations by address. (Editor: Tang Sheng-yang) 1150507
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio-visual content of this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.