In light of the concerns raised among residents regarding the indiscriminate removal of large urban trees by the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council along with other local authorities, various organisations have organised a demonstration in the city capital of Tenerife. This will take place on Saturday, 21st December at 11:00 a.m., commencing from Calle Castillo to Plaza Candelaria.

They articulated this in a statement announcing the event titled March through the trees, which is set to gather at Plaza Weyler.

These groups assert that, in recent weeks, the municipal government has been removing “mature” trees from various locations in the city, including the Orche area, Viera y Clavijo Park, Rambla de Pulido, Plaza del Chicharro, Avenida de la Constitución, Ofra, Pérez Galdós, Viera and Clavijo, and July 25.

According to these organisations, no alternative methods to the felling process were employed in these instances; instead, “only aggressive pruning was conducted to mutilate the trees prior to their removal.”

They also highlight that one of the tulip trees in Orche is “left struggling with amputated branches, lacking irrigation, and filled with debris whilst awaiting a supposed transplantation.”

The organisers of the March through the trees are calling for several actions from the various governmental bodies in the Canary Islands, which notably includes urging the Regional Assembly for the prompt approval of the Canarian ILP for the Protection of Urban Trees, a proposal that has been underway since 2019.

The Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council, alongside other local councils across the Canary Islands, the Cabildos, and the regional government, should always ensure the inclusion of existing urban trees in any public works projects planned or already in progress, preventing felling and instead favouring transplantation with appropriate guarantees in exceptional circumstances.

Both the Tenerife City Council and other local administrations across the islands are demanding an immediate halt to logging operations, implementing the Transparency Law to mandate public access to reports that justify such removals. These documents should be signed by qualified technicians and provide comprehensive information regarding the decisions made. Furthermore, they advocate for the creation of a section on the City Council’s website that details upcoming felling plans and establishes a legal timeframe for submitting complaints.

Conversely, they insist on adequate
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Urban Tree Care

The upkeep of urban trees involves proper irrigation, pest management, judicious pruning during suitable seasons that avoid disrupting bird nesting, well-designed tree pits that prohibit the use of rubber, artificial grass, or any material detrimental to the trees, and protective measures around tree pits using architectural elements or fencing. These measures should prevent the entry of toxic substances from municipal cleaning activities, refuse, dog urine, and human waste.

Additionally, it is requested that the Tenerife City Council website provide detailed information on the specifications of each tree, including its maintenance status and the actions undertaken by the Parks and Gardens department (such as irrigation frequency, pest treatments, fertilisation, and pruning).

Another proposal is to establish a section on the official websites of local councils allowing citizens to report any issues concerning urban trees (such as inadequate irrigation, diseases, lack of pruning, dead branches, or mistreatment due to construction work) with the option to submit photographs. These reports should be documented and prompt immediate action to rectify the issues, as there is a risk of tree death or falling branches that may pose hazards to individuals.

It is also necessary for the local councils to possess the proper equipment (such as tomographs and resistographs) and adequately trained technicians to evaluate the condition of the trees, enabling them to make informed decisions regarding conservation measures (including adjustments to tree pits, supporting trunks, reducing crowns, lowering heights, or transplanting).

They advocate for adherence to the 3/30/300 standard: that each resident should be able to see three trees from their window, that their neighbourhood should have a vegetation coverage of 30%, and that they should reside within 300 metres of a park.

“We cannot permit the Santa Cruz City Council or any other authority to neglect, mistreat, and subsequently fell trees without consequence,” they assert.

They further emphasise that “trees are living entities deserving of care and respect, integral to our botanical heritage and that of future generations,” which is why it is deemed “irreplaceable” and “unacceptable” for councils to “maltreat them, allow them to suffer from thirst and diseases, or cut them down under the pretext that they are unwell.”

Conversely, they disagree with the narrative presented by the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council stating, “100 are cut down, and 150 are planted, which constitutes a positive outcome for the Council,” deeming it detrimental to environmental awareness.