The Civil Guard is investigating a resident of Valladolid as the alleged perpetrator of a crime of damage to heritage caused to the exterior roots and trunk of an ancient tree located in San Cristóbal de Valdueza (León). Specifically, it is a yew, a species of the genus taxus baccata.
The Patrol of the Nature Protection Service (Seprona), in collaboration with Environmental Agents of the Board, began investigations into some alleged acts of vandalism that occurred last August 2023 on the tree.
The agents observed that the ancient yew taxus baccata, located in the town of San Cristóbal de Valdueza-Ponferrada (León), had damaged the roots of a tree considered "emblematic and monumental", explains the Armed Institute through a statement sent to Europe Press.
The ancient yew of San Cristóbal de Valdueza is a specimen included in the catalog of plant specimens of singular relevance from Castilla y León, an index that aims to regulate the protection and conservation of certain specimens of tree species.
Once the investigations had begun, last February the person investigated was surprised in the vicinity of the tree, carrying a toothed saw and making wedge-shaped cuts in the roots of the yew, which caused bleeding of the sap from the tree and therefore its weakening.
According to these facts, Seprona proceeded to criminally charge him as an investigator, as well as to hand over the proceedings carried out in the Ponferrada Guard Court, since these acts could constitute an alleged crime of damage to assets. historical, scientific, cultural or monumental.
Regarding the specimen, the extent of the damage is still being evaluated, a report that will be carried out by the School of Agricultural and Forestry Engineering located on the Ponferrada Campus (León).
In principle, this yew tree has suffered at least three attacks since last summer, specifically in the months of August and November 2023 and February of this year.
