Developers begin cutting trees in a Tokyo park that environmentalists want to protect

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Tree-cutting began Monday in the Jingu Gaien park district of central Tokyo, a flashpoint for more than a year between environmentalists and real estate interests. Developers have a 10-year multi-billion-dollar plan to build three skyscrapers on the coveted land. (AP video by Mayuko Ono)

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A worker, left, asks protesters and media members to move out of a cordoned area as environmentalists hold a rally near the Jingu Gaien park district of central Tokyo, Japan, to protest against property developer Mitsui Fudosan beginning cutting trees as part of the redevelopment work, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

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Protest leader Satoru Osawa, right, a Tokyo resident, speaks as environmentalists hold a rally near the Jingu Gaien park district of central Tokyo, Japan, as property developer Mitsui Fudosan begins cutting trees as part of the redevelopment of the area, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

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Mikiko Ishikawa, a university professor who protests against tree cutting stands right, as security guards stand in front of a gate of the Jingu Gaien park district of central Tokyo, Japan, where property developer Mitsui Fudosan begins cutting trees as part of the redevelopment of the area, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

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Protest leader Satoru Osawa, tries to take a picture of the demolition work as environmentalists hold a rally near the Jingu Gaien park district of central Tokyo, Japan, where property developer Mitsui Fudosan begins cutting trees as part of the redevelopment of the area, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

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Workers are seen at the site as environmentalists hold a rally near the Jingu Gaien park district of central Tokyo, Japan, to protest property developer Mitsui Fudosan beginning cutting trees as part of the redevelopment of the area, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

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A worker, second left, speaks with, Mikiko Ishikawa, second right, a university professor, and protest leader Satoru Osawa as environmentalists hold a rally near the Jingu Gaien park district of central Tokyo, Japan, to protest against property developer Mitsui Fudosan beginning cutting trees as part of the redevelopment of the area, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

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A worker, right, asks Mikiko Ishikawa, a university professor who protests against tree cutting, back to camera, to move out of a cordoned area in front of the Jingu Gaien park district of central Tokyo, Japan, where property developer Mitsui Fudosan begins cutting trees as part of the redevelopment work, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

TOKYO (AP) — Workers began cutting trees Monday in central Tokyo’s Jingu Gaien park district to make way for a development project, a flashpoint for more than a year between environmentalists and real estate interests.

Developers led by real-estate company Mitsui Fudosan have a 10-year, multi-billion-dollar plan to build three skyscrapers on the coveted land and to raze a historical baseball stadium, replacing it with a new stadium.

A small group of protesters gathered Monday. They object to the destruction of trees in a city that lacks green space and is seeing many parks handed over to commercial interests.

The plan is backed by Tokyo Gov. Yuiko Koike, who once was Japan’s environmental minister.