Hainan issues steep fines for illegal cutting of rare trees

People chopping down ancient trees can be fined as much as 400,000 yuan ($64,756) per tree in China's southernmost province of Hainan, according to a regulation passed by the provincial legislature on Tuesday.

Those who cut down rare trees or trees over 300 years old will be fined 200,000 yuan to 400,000 yuan a tree, according to the provincial regulation on the protection and management of rare and ancient trees.

Those who fell trees between 100 and 300 years old will be fined 100,000 yuan to 200,000 yuan per tree, according to the regulation.

Landscape and forestry departments at various levels are responsible for ordering relevant units and individuals to remove facilities that would hinder the growth of rare and ancient trees, it said.

Rare and ancient trees can be transplanted if the environment is not appropriate for their growth or the construction of national and provincial key projects can not be avoided, according to the regulation.