Several trees were cut down on September 9, 2026, as part of the high-speed rail (LGV) project connecting Toulouse and Bordeaux in the Haute-Garonne region. The work began earlier than planned, thanks to an interprefectural decree issued on September 1, which allowed the tree-cutting to start a month ahead of schedule. This decision caught environmental activists and opponents of the project by surprise. On September 2 at 7 a.m., chainsaws were used to cut down all the trees in an area slightly larger than one hectare, known as the "wooded triangle." A large police operation, including gendarmes and a helicopter, was deployed to oversee the operation. The area is now left with uprooted trees and disturbed vegetation. The site, once a base for environmental activists, had become a symbol of their resistance against the LGV. Camille, an activist, expressed anger and concern over the early cutting, especially after the region endured a harsh summer with wildfires. The prefects justified the early start by saying that the original two-month window, starting in October, would not be enough time to complete the tree-cutting required for archaeological surveys before construction begins. Activists had been expelled from the site multiple times but used it as a visible platform for their opposition. The prefecture of Haute-Garonne did not respond to questions from the news outlet Reporterre. Jean Olivier, co-president of Friends of the Earth Midi-Pyrénées, argued that the operation violated regulations, as a notice should have been given fifteen days in advance. The tree-cutting had been scheduled to begin on October 1, and this early start caught the activists’ legal strategy off guard. Jean Olivier explained that they had filed a request with the courts on August 22 to delay the work until October 1, pending a decision on the case. However, the prefects of several departments, including Gironde and Lot-et-Garonne, anticipated a possible unfavorable ruling and authorized the cuts earlier. Opponents attempted to challenge the decree by filing an emergency legal request, but the court rejected it on September 9. Camille expressed concern that areas in Lot-et-Garonne, such as Feugarolles and Sainte-Colombe-en-Bruilhois, would also be affected by the early tree-cutting, which was expected to begin on September 15. Residents along the planned LGV route are growing increasingly worried, as some had hoped the project might be abandoned. The LGV, which received its environmental authorization in February 2026, is expected to convert about 4,800 hectares of farmland into infrastructure. As one of the largest European infrastructure projects of the decade, it has raised questions about its feasibility. Critics argue that existing rail investments should be prioritized and that the project's costs—potentially exceeding 14 billion euros—are too high. Jean Olivier compared the situation to the A69 project between Toulouse and Castres, which he described as non-viable but still ongoing. He noted that environmental laws and procedural issues, such as public consultation, could provide stronger legal arguments against the project.