Buy a portable sawmill and offer to cut it up for free....
I live in Shoreline, just north of Seattle, where we can still cut down our own trees.
But in Seattle proper, about ten years ago the city made it illegal for property owners to cut down their own trees without permission.
Actually, where I live and where the neighbors behind me have some view over my property to Puget Sound, they would be ecstatic if I cut down all my trees. Probably believe that they should have the right to cut down all my trees.
His property, his tree. Butt out.
(Go plant one of your own.