THE Jahangirnagar University authorities have evoked strident protests from environmentalists and students alike following their decision to fell a few hundred old trees on the campus. The strange move is being ostensibly taken to keep off the poachers who have been spiriting away some of the trees for good money. Presumably, they want to rid the campus of the inviting trees. Rather than staving thieves off by effective security vigil, the administration seems to have taken a convenient route to appear in a salesman's role. The timber business will surely add to the university coffers; but at what cost? The other reason cited for tearing down the trees is allegedly their moribund nature being 'detrimental to public health'. Frankly, this sounds more like fabrication than reasoning. This is unheard of, too, for most of the renowned universities around the world, let alone the subcontinent, have been epitomes of nature and human beings living in perfect symbiosis. As a matter of fact, JU campus' hallmark is its wooded landscape and its vast tree cover that has been a boon for bio-diversity and a home to 150 species of migratory and native birds. Besides, these trees enhance the aesthetic side of the campus and are good study material for botanists. Our correspondent himself taking a close look at the trees found out that these are not moribund trees nor their trunks or roots spanning or penetrating into surrounding structures. So, we endorse the concerns of the environmentalists and the students of university and urge the syndicate to reverse the decision and have the trees continue to breathe fresh air into the overall ambience. Simultaneously, the university administration should go the extra mile to prune the trees and treat them to grow new foliage, where possible. More importantly, plant more trees.