Environmentalists have identified the deforestation of green spaces as a key problem in Makhachkala.

In Makhachkala, green spaces are being cut down to make way for commercial construction. This situation could lead to widespread problems for residents.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," residents' proposals to create new public gardens in Makhachkala are relevant because there aren't enough green spaces, activists from the "Our City" movement pointed out in March 2023. There's no longer enough space in the city for a new large park, so several mini-parks could be created, they suggested.

On December 18, Makhachkala resident Aigum Gitinov, a member of the "Our City" movement, filmed a video about the planned felling of seven trees at the site of a multi-story building on Liza Chaikina Street. "Trees have been growing here for a long time, how can we combat this?" " asks the author of the video, obtained by the "Caucasian Knot."

"The developer is preparing to hand over a building, and they're planning to cut down trees on the adjacent street, dumping the remaining concrete onto the green space. A foreman was on site, and I told him the concrete would have to be removed. He started arguing with me, asking, 'Why are you asking me what's going to happen to the trees?' And he confirmed that they'll be cut down," the activist said.

According to him, there are no large green spaces at this location. "There are fewer and fewer trees left on this street; everything is being covered with asphalt. There's another building there, on the corner of Chaikina and Deputatskaya Streets. It used to be a green space. After the development, all the trees disappeared," Gitinov said.

Tree cutting down occurs regularly in Makhachkala, according to ecologist Magomed Aliyev. "The so-called 'legal' cuts are motivated by the need for energy companies to trim tree crowns. Most often, green spaces are cut down to make way for the construction of commercial facilities. While trees are rarely cut down in parks, as the Ministry of Natural Resources monitors this, it is a common practice on the streets. The environmental damage from such logging is enormous. In the summer, Makhachkala experiences high levels of air pollution, with virtually no shade left," the ecologist told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"High levels of air pollution are regularly detected by Rospotrebnadzor sampling on the city's central streets – Akushinsky and Shamil Avenues. Regular logging is recorded in the Eltavsky Forest, which has the status of a specially protected natural area of local importance. In the 1970s, its area was 72 hectares; now it is less than 40 hectares," Aliyev noted.

"Trees in southern cities play a role." "They play an important role. They prevent air pollution, help reduce noise levels, and prevent summer temperatures from rising. Bird habitats are destroyed due to deforestation. Trees are practically never planted in the city, and if they are planted, they are mostly conifers, which provide no shade," the ecologist noted.

Considering the current situation with the deforestation of green spaces in the city, Makhachkala residents may face health problems, believes eco-activist Zaira Alibegova.

"Ecologists, eco-volunteers "We are confident that the only way to create a comfortable environment in the city is to plant more trees than are cut down during landscaping," she believes.

"It's impossible to say definitively what most often causes illegal or controversial logging within the city, but there are reasons why trees and large shrubs may be cut down in cities. These include sanitary logging, removing shade from residential and non-residential premises, during the construction of new buildings, and when addressing hazardous and emergency situations. Residents are right to raise the alarm. Currently, Makhachkala's green area is 3-4%, while the World Health Organization standard is 40-60%. "A common question from visiting tourists is: 'Why is there so little green space in the city?'" Alibegova noted.

According to her, the most alarming issue is the cutting down of trees in parks, squares, boulevards, and courtyards.

"There are frequent cases of construction without regard for the health of trees and other green spaces. Trees are covered with asphalt, concrete, lawn, and paving slabs, which disrupts gas exchange in the soil, which also disrupts chemical processes. Few trees have sufficient vitality to survive long in such conditions. The cutting down of green spaces in the city reduces the ability of the environment to adequately cleanse the atmosphere of pollutants. The situation with green spaces in Makhachkala can only be described as catastrophic." "The lack of green space negatively impacts the city's air quality—it's nothing but exhaust fumes, dust, and smog," the environmental activist said.

willing to pay up to 50,000 rubles to restore the trees

One of the subscribers to the Chernovik Telegram channel reported on December 11 that a parking lot has been built at the intersection of Gamidova and Shamilya Streets instead of a green street with trees and shrubs near the Etazhi shopping center.

"Trees and shrubs have been cut down over an area of approximately 1,000 square meters, and the entire area has been paved over. This area now serves as a private parking lot. "We ask that the guilty parties be compelled to return the park to its original condition," reads the post, which had garnered 6,500 views by 7:30 a.m. Moscow time.

"After this post, a wave of messages from city residents began offering to pay for various green spaces. People are willing to pay from 1,000 to 50,000 rubles to restore trees and flowerbeds. Thus, a spontaneous flash mob was formed, which readers have dubbed 'Trees Instead of Concrete,'" reads the post, dated December 12.

The Telegram channel cited several readers' statements without disclosing their names. "I'm ready to pay for the planting of 10 trees in this place. I hope someone will also take care of the flowers," noted one user. "I'll pay for 10 sycamore trees and give another 5,000 rubles for flowers. Plus, I'll give a bouquet of flowers to whoever raised this issue," noted another reader.

"We hope the mayor of Makhachkala and other officials will respond to this positive flash mob from residents of the Dagestani capital. Makhachkala residents want to see a city that is green, fresh, and clean, not gray, stuffy, and dirty," concluded one resident.

As a reminder, Makhachkala residents and local activists have repeatedly protested against park development. For example, in October 2022, the construction of gazebos in Leninsky Komsomol Park raised concerns among residents. They stated that cutting down trees and constructing gazebos in one of the few green spaces is unacceptable. Following this, the Makhachkala prosecutor's office cancelled the permit for the construction of the gazebos.

In January 2023, it became known that an 11-story hotel was planned to be built in Leninsky Komsomol Park on the site of the Uyut cafe, which was located on Umakhanov Lane. After protests from residents, authorities announced that the owner of the site agreed not to build the hotel.