Trump golf course ‘destroyed’ protected land in Scotland despite vow to minimize damage: report

President Trump’s golf course in Scotland has reportedly “destroyed the vast majority” of protected sand dunes in the area, despite a pledge not to.

Scottish Natural Heritage, an environmental agency, found that construction of the Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire led to “direct loss” of at least 168 acres of sand dunes, according to The Associated Press.

The dunes are environmentally sensitive and protected by Scottish law.

Trump reportedly made a personal commitment to minimize damage to the land when he won approval to build the golf course, according to the AP.

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Documents detailing the damage were released by Scottish Natural Heritage under a Freedom of Information Act request. The reports saw that Foveran Links and other nearby natural formations have undergone “considerable damage.”

“Construction of the new golf course involved earthworks, planting of trees, greens and fairways, drainage, irrigation and grass planting,” one report reads, according to The Guardian. “This has affected the natural morphology of the dunes and interfered with natural processes. Most of its important geomorphological features have been lost or reduced to fragments. Nearby marine terraces have also been reduced to fragments.”

The report notes that, due to the damage, it is likely that the area’s status as a site of special scientific interest will be revoked.

The Trump Organization is reportedly planning to invest close to $200 million to develop the Aberdeenshire property. 

Last year, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency voiced objections to Trump’s plans to build a second golf course at the resort over concerns about the sand dunes.