For Tesla, there are good and bad trees. Is that true?

The construction of Tesla’s Gigafactory in the outskirts of Berlin has sparked all kinds of ecological hatred. But the automaker does not deserve it!

The British newspaper The Guardian stirred the pot on August 22 by reporting the number of trees cut down for the construction of Giga Berlin. 329 hectares of forest sacrificed and 500,000 trees felled. This may seem enormous, but for comparison, from August 1 to 15, 3,500 hectares of forest burned in Portugal due to a single arsonist. This shows that human folly causes far more damage than industry.

Of course, the figures are quite shocking and have only strengthened the resolve of various ecological associations that relentlessly make Tesla’s life difficult. We still remember the arson of an electrical line in March of this year that suspended the production line for a week. Moreover, since May, activists have set up a real little village nearby, building tree houses to protest against the factory’s expansion project.

And yet Tesla is good for the forest

But The Guardian went further than just sensational reporting and looked into the sacrificed trees. It turns out that the trees Tesla has already cut down and those that will disappear to expand the factory are not what we imagine a forest to be, nor what opponents want to present to us. These are commercial pines used solely for making paper and cardboard. Trees planted in this commercial area to create a totally artificial forest whose only role was to beautify the space a bit and create short-term economic activity. But these trees were destined from their planting to be razed to make way for factories, a fact known for decades!

And the most amazing thing is that Tesla has committed to a reforestation process and has already replanted an area of 318 hectares. A rich and diverse mixed forest that includes oak, beech, and other noble species. So in the end, Tesla has transformed 318 hectares of pine monoculture into a lush mixed forest, creating what activists are really fighting for: a true healthy forest, rich in flora and fauna. And do not underestimate the eco-extremists who are not as foolish as one might think; they are perfectly aware of this. It is just unfortunate that the more moderate voices cannot be heard in this chorus of hatred.

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