Tree Fine imposed by Oakland authorities orders Nigerian doctor Matthew Bernard and his wife to pay nearly $1m

The City Council in Oakland has ordered Nigerian medical doctor Matthew Bernard and his wife to pay nearly $1m after authorities accused the couple of illegally felling dozens of protected trees around their property in the United States.

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According to reports presented during a public hearing on Tuesday, Matthew Bernard and his wife, Lynn Warner, were found responsible for cutting down 38 legally protected trees on and around their Claremont Avenue property.

The decision followed mounting pressure from local residents who demanded strict enforcement of Oakland’s environmental protection laws.

More than 20 residents reportedly attended the hearing and argued that the trees played a crucial role in wildfire prevention, environmental protection and public health within the community.

The council eventually imposed a massive Tree Fine of $915,135.40 on the couple and also placed a claim on the property that could prevent future development or sale until the penalty is fully settled.

At the hearing, Matthew Bernard defended the decision to remove the trees, insisting they posed safety concerns.

The Nigerian doctor said the trees had been identified by an arborist as “dead, dying, leaning,” or in a “hazardous condition”.

However, city officials rejected that explanation and maintained that the removals violated Oakland’s tree preservation regulations.

A community tree specialist, Erys Gagnez, justified the penalty by stressing the environmental importance of mature trees in the area.

“Trees of that size are not commercially available for replacement. Even with replanting, it will take decades, even centuries, to restore the ecological and protective functions that were lost,” Erys Gagnez said.

The specialist added that the scale of the fine reflected the long-term environmental impact caused by the removals.

The case has sparked widespread debate within the Oakland community over property rights, environmental responsibility and urban conservation policies.

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It also highlights increasing efforts by local governments in parts of the United States to enforce strict environmental protection measures amid growing concerns over climate change and wildfire risks.