Click image to zoom

A69: Riot Police Try To Dislodge 4ecureuils' At The 'Crem'Arbre' ZAD

NGE/ATOSCA is currently working on the A69 highway under heavy police protection in the woods of Saix in the Tarn Department, on the planned route between Toulouse and Castres. Opponents of this project have established a Zone To Defend (ZAD) named 'Crem'Arbre' and individuals referred to as 'Ecureuils' ('Squirrels') are living in the trees to prevent them from being cut down. Riot police, known as Gendarmes Mobiles, are intervening to clear the ZAD of all opponents and are now standing guard near the trees occupied by the 'Ecureuils' to prevent sympathizers from supplying them with food and water. A special unit of policemen, CNAMO, is also involved in efforts to dislodge the 'Squirrels' from their trees. After two days of police efforts, only one 'Ecureuil' has been dislodged. The Human Rights League (LDH) has arrived to provide medical supplies to the 'Ecureuils'. Meanwhile, new trees are being occupied by 'Ecureuils' at a new location called 'Cal'Arbre'. The main collective 'La Voie est Libre' ('The Way is Free') is demanding that construction of the highway be halted until all judicial decisions have been made. Not all expropriations for farmers have been resolved. Opponents argue that reprofiling the N126 would be sufficient for the anticipated 6,000 vehicles per day and would be much less costly. The A69 highway is projected to cost EUR512 million (in 2018 euros, excluding inflation) for 54 kilometers, and its construction would result in the destruction of over 100 protected species and 400 hectares of agricultural land. This is taking place in Saix, Tarn, France, on February 21, 2024. (Photo by Alain Pitton/NurPhoto)

Photo ID	#11012822
Date Taken	20 February 2024
Location	N/A
Photographer	Alain Pitton/NurPhoto
Category	Social Issue
Copyright	© 2026 NurPhoto - Alain Pitton/NurPhoto

ecology highway protest la voie est libre lvel environment nature law btp collective national road n126 A69 public works politics opposition opponent objector protester climate nge climate change global warming castres concrete toulouse france nature destruction concreting atosca activist arborist climber trees zad crem'arbre public money waste occitanie tarn gendarmerie mobile public interest gathering activistes nature pacifism occupation tree forest woods oaks oak cutting clear cutting toulouse semalens saix crem'arbre autoroute A69 ldh cnamo human rights league ligue des droits de l'homme cal'arbre