In recent weeks, there has been a major uprooting of trees and foliage on the City College campus.

These trees, most of them over 20 years old, are being cut down to make way for the construction of the new Business and Technology building on the southeast side of campus.

The deforestation has, of course, not gone unnoticed.

According to Tom Fine, construction project manager, the demolition phase of construction began Aug. 11 and was completed Sept. 20. He said 40 to 50 trees were cut down around campus, but will be replaced at a 1-3 ratio.

For every tree cut down three more will be planted in and around the new building.

“A lot has gone into trying to recycle and reuse materials, not only organic matter,” Fine noted.

Not all the trees had to be removed and disposed of.

“We were able to salvage two of the trees that were of a certain species,” Fine said. “The district decided (these species) grew at too slow of a pace to be replaced all together and they were replanted elsewhere.”

As for the trees that were cut down, Fine added, “All of them are being mulched and redistributed as fertilizer all around the campus as well.”

Referring to the debris left from demolition of the old structures Fine states that, “about 90 percent of the steel and concrete from those buildings was also sent off to be recycled.”

Many students and members of faculty are fully aware of the reduction in foliage around campus due to the ongoing construction projects.

“I was very upset and disturbed when I saw that they were cutting down all those trees,” English major student Yahir Solarzano said. “I used to have to lunch in that grassy area in front of the old cosmetology building. I’m glad to hear that they’re going to plant new trees.”

History major Kayra Frank shared the same sentiments.

“Well at least at the end of the construction, there will be more trees then there was before, and that the noise and the rest of the inconveniences of the construction will be worthwhile,” Frank said.