Nigerian doctor and wife to pay $1M fine for cutting trees

A Nigerian medical doctor, Matthew Bernard, and his wife, Lynn Warner, have been ordered to pay a fine of nearly $1 million for illegally cutting down 38 legally protected trees on their property located on Claremont Avenue in Oakland, California.

The City Council of Oakland voted in favor of the fine, which totals $915,135.40, after a public hearing attended by more than 20 residents.

The community voiced their concerns over the environmental impact, stressing the importance of these trees in preventing wildfires, promoting public health, and enhancing environmental equity.

According to KQED, the couple removed the trees nearly four years ago, following advice from an arborist. However, the city disagreed with their justification, arguing that the trees were not in the hazardous condition claimed by Bernard. As part of the penalty, a claim has been placed on the couple’s property, effectively preventing them from selling or developing it until the fine is paid in full.

At the public hearing, Bernard defended his actions, stating that the trees were either “dead, dying, leaning,” or in “hazardous condition.” However, the city’s decision remains firm.

Erys Gagnez, a community tree specialist, highlighted the long-term environmental cost of removing trees of such size, stating, “These trees are irreplaceable, and even with replanting efforts, it will take decades, if not centuries, to restore the ecological balance that was lost.”