The Municipal Affair Bureau (IAM) said in a statement on Saturday that during a routine patrol on Coloane Hill it caught several people red-handed illegally digging up a hiking trail to build a mountain bike ramp.
According to the statement, around 10 square metres of the hiking trail had been illegally dug up and the IAM patrol immediately stopped the culprits from continuing their illegal activity.
The statement pointed out that any resident who intentionally damages the natural environment faces a 600 pataca fine, adding that residents who build a mountain bike ramp without a permit face a fine of up to a 5,000 patacas.
The statement stressed that Macau hill forests are habitats for wild animals and plants, pointing out that they are an essential part of the city’s ecosystem. The bureau urged residents to protect the natural environment.
The bureau warned that doing bike tricks on a hill is dangerous as it could cause harm to hikers.
According to the statement, anyone witnessing activities that damage the natural environment ought to call 2833 7676 to report the matter.
This handout photo provided by the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) shows two suspects (with their faces blurred) being questioned by IAM patrol officials near an illegally built mountain bike ramp on Coloane Hill on Saturday.
