Polish law change unleashes 'massacre' of trees

New law allows private landowners to cut down any number of trees without applying for permission or even informing authorities

A controversial change to Polish environmental law has unleashed what campaigners describe as a "massacre" of trees across the country.

The new amendment, commonly known as "Szyszko's law", after Jan Szyszko, Poland's environment minister, removes the obligation for private landowners to apply for permission to cut down trees, pay compensation or plant new trees, or even to inform local authorities that trees have been or will be removed.