Around a dozen Indian laurels situated in the final section of the Rambla de Santa Cruz, between Almeyda and Anaga Avenue, have reached the terminal stage of their lifecycle, resulting in a dry appearance without flowering. Consequently, the Capital City Council, through the Department of Public Services, will start the gradual replacement of these nearly dead specimens with new ones. This action is based on the recommendations from the local Parks and Gardens specialists and will commence next year, as announced yesterday to DIARIO DE AVISOS by the councillor of the area, Carlos Tarife.
The councillor elaborated, “Trees are living entities and, therefore, they have their own lifespan, similar to the Indian laurels in this concluding section of the Rambla. Following the assessments made, it has been confirmed that their appearance is not due to inadequate irrigation or illness, but rather to deterioration resulting from their nearing death.” In this context, he emphasised that “the aim is to fell these affected specimens, which number around ten, and replace them with others of the same species, as previously done with those near the Navy Command.”
Concerning the public event scheduled for this Saturday, organised by the environmental groups Los Arboles Speak and Initiatives.10, aimed at encouraging residents to bring 8-litre jugs of water to irrigate the Indian laurels in this vicinity of the Rambla de Santa Cruz, Tarife noted that “this action is prohibited under the current municipal Parks and Gardens regulations and, therefore, may incur penalties. The rule forbids any individual from watering the green areas managed by the city council on their own accord, as this could produce the opposite effect from what is intended.”
The Councillor for Public Services stated that “the city gardens overseen by the council utilise a controlled drip irrigation system that measures the required quantity of water. If citizens contribute 8 litres of water, it will lead to root rot and consequently harm the species.”
On whether this circumstance regarding the final phase of the Rambla specimens could lead to new collapses, Tarife added that “there is no absolute risk. The examination conducted by the firm Doctor Arbol on the health of urban green species did not reveal any fungi that could precipitate their imminent collapse, but ultimately, they are living entities and could pose a risk at any moment.”
