Members of Los Árboles Hablan and La Mesa del Árbol have criticised, in statements to Canarias Ahora, the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Town Hall (CC and PP) for continuing with the felling of Indian laurels that began on the Monday of last week, with a total of 17 to be removed and another 27 to be felled and attempted to be saved between number 147 of La Rambla and the Commandancy of Marina. The two entities emphasize that, according to their analysis, only four specimens needed to be removed due to their poor condition, but insist on criticising the decision to fell more (up to 13 additional trees). In this regard, they reject that, at the plenary meeting last Friday, the local government (CC-PP), in response to questions from PSOE spokesperson Patricia Hernández, presented up to four technical reports, raising the number of trees to be removed from three to 17, but dismissing a new analysis that, in their view, should be conducted by a private company.
The first of these studies dates back to January 2025, produced by the UTE FCC-Acciona (awarded the maintenance of Parks and Gardens for 14 million euros) and refers to the felling of three laurels. The second study is from April, conducted by the company Árbol Investigación y Gestión, which also argues that three should be removed and suggests evaluating the cutting of six more, bringing the total to nine at most. However, in June, reference is made to a report from the Wolfredo Wildpret Botanical Garden Chair, which does not address the condition of the laurels or mention the felling of any, as well as another report from the same month, again from FCC-Acciona, that has already increased the number to 17.
Naturalist groups are questioning why the number has increased from three to 17 (they had identified four in poor condition), why some media are reporting up to 25 specimens (a figure not considered by the local government), and whether reports have been expressly prepared to justify the Town Hall’s position, particularly from the councillor responsible for Parks and Gardens, Carlos Tarife (PP), whom they criticise for preferring to adhere to the study advocating for 17.
They emphasize, “the loss of these large Indian laurels means the disappearance of an urban forest in which birds and insects live and breed. This is an irreversible loss of our habitat and our plant heritage, an unforgivable ecocide at this stage of the 21st century.”
Last Monday, these groups reported the felling of these laurels to Seprona via email, as instructed, stressing that, in their opinion, the law is being violated. Furthermore, they criticize that they have not been able to submit the claims they intended to present to the Town Hall because the local corporation has yet to respond to their request for access to the file. Moreover, their proposal for an independent company to prepare a report has also not been taken into account, and they recall that in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the local government accepted and funded an external company to analyse the situation of the Ficus at Risco de San Nicolás, at the request of residents, which halted the felling.
They also criticise that their calls for a halt to the felling have been ignored and that the cutting of the specimens began when, according to these entities, environmental law may be being violated due to the impacts in a habitat and breeding area for birds (from January to August in the Canary Islands), apart from their rights to information and participation being infringed, “by not allowing us access to the file.” They also remind that a company was willing to collaborate in the case of Santa Cruz, but the Town Hall did not pay attention to this possibility. The two groups underline that, “during the nesting season, birds are protected by laws, regulations, and international agreements that prohibit activities that may cause them disturbance or harm, such as the destruction of their nests or the disturbance of their habitats. The competent authorities can take measures to protect birds and their habitats during this period.”
The laws that are being violated, according to the groups
They highlight that some of these regulations include Law 42/2007, of 13 December, on Natural Heritage and Biodiversity, which establishes the general framework for the conservation of nature and biodiversity in Spain, including the protection of birds and their habitats. Also, Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 30 November 2009, relating to the conservation of wild birds, which establishes the rules for the protection of wild birds in the European Union, including the protection of their habitats and the prohibition of activities that may cause them harm or disturbance. In addition, there is the Bern Convention, on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, signed in Bern in 1979, which establishes the protection of species of wild flora and fauna and their habitats, including birds. Furthermore, there is the Law for the Protection of Wildlife and Wild Flora, which regulates the protection of species of wildlife and flora in Spain, including birds, and establishes the standards for their conservation and management.
For its part, the government emphasizes that, following the studies, these 17 laurels are deemed lost, that they are pruning another 27 as they believe they are suitable for maintaining and revitalising, and that prior to these actions, all branches were thoroughly reviewed to ensure that no bird nests would be affected. The mayor himself, José Manuel Bermúdez, states that these are “difficult but necessary decisions to preserve the essence of La Rambla,” a view not shared by critical groups. Tarife explains that the deterioration of these trees has arisen over decades and is due to various factors such as water stress, works, pests, and the impact of climate change. He also emphasizes that they are trying to avoid “aggressive pruning, improve the soil, and ensure suitable growth conditions for current trees and those to be planted in the future.”
Among other measures, it is planned to extend the flowerbeds by 0.8 metres, use structural cells to improve the soil, install permeable paving, oxidation trenches, and a new irrigation network.
