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Nature Project Sabotaged: Trees Poisoned on Dartmoor
27 Nov
Summary
- Protected trees in Dartmoor were deliberately poisoned with herbicide.
- The trees were crucial for preventing peat erosion and flooding.
- An investigation is underway to find the unknown culprit.
A nature restoration project on Dartmoor has been severely disrupted after protected willow trees were deliberately poisoned. The trees, planted to prevent peat erosion and flooding on land owned by the Duchy of Cornwall, were found to have been sprayed with a potent herbicide, believed to be glyphosate. This act of vandalism occurred within a Site of Special Scientific Interest, raising concerns about ongoing conservation efforts.
The planting of these trees was part of a wider initiative to restore peatland, a critical habitat for carbon storage and biodiversity, which is degraded across the UK. Experts and conservationists have condemned the act as sabotage, emphasizing the fragility of current restoration endeavors in the largely treeless Dartmoor landscape.
The Duchy of Cornwall and the South West Peatland Partnership have expressed dismay, vowing to replant the vandalized areas. An investigation is currently underway, with authorities seeking to identify the unknown perpetrator responsible for this criminal damage to a protected natural habitat.
