Friday, the University of California began cutting trees on campus, in a grove where four tree-sitters have been protesting for 21 months against the construction of an athletic facility.

It has been announced by University officials that, by Monday, all of the trees would be cut down, the only one left standing being the tree that the sitters are currently occupying. Forty-three trees have to be cut down in order to leave enough space for the athletic center. The latter will have to cater for the needs of 400 Berkeley students and will provide offices, locker rooms, meeting rooms, medical exam rooms and training spaces for 14 different sports.

The project, which will take about two and a half years to complete, cost the University $125 million, has also been subject to a lawsuit filed by neighbours and has only been given the go ahead this Thursday.

UC Berkeley spokesman Dan Mogulof stated that they would continue providing the tree-sitters with food and water while the workers properly prepare the rest of the construction site. Moreover, they promised that for each tree to be cut down, one mature tree and two saplings would be planted.

Therefore, they expect the four to give up the protest, he added.

The protest against the trees being cut down began in December 2006 and has since become the longest urban tree-sitting one in the country. It reached its climax when 20 people were living in tree houses, gliding on ropes and pulleys between them.