Cutting Down a Big Oak Forest in Russia–Or Not

Plans to build a ten-lane highway through a stand of centuries-old oak trees outside of Moscow were put on hold by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.  Rock concerts have been held to protest the plan to cut down the oak trees, and the president said “high public resonance’ about the project made him decide to suspend the clearing .

The protesters dont’ want the highway because it would cut 15% of the trees and cut the place into pieces.

The big road was once going to be paid for by European banks. But after the multiple protests, they dropped out. Nobody wants to be known as the bank that cuts down ancient oak trees. If they move the road around the forest, they might be able to get back some of the dough taken away by the shocked Euro bank presidents.