"We are not doing it for pleasure, but in the name of people's safety." Rogério Bacalhau, president of the Chamber of Faro, participated, this Thursday, March 21, in the planting of a cork oak in Jardim da Alameda and it was with these words that he justified the pruning of some trees in that place, one of the main green spaces in the Algarve capital.
This is an intervention that has generated great controversy in the city. The so-called rolling pruning – considered by many to be abusive – was carried out on about a dozen trees in Jardim da Alameda and motivated a recommendation by the PAN (People-Animals-Nature), presented at the Municipal Assembly.
In the document, this party contests the practice and calls for the use of "appropriate pruning methods, according to the principles of cutting", as well as that the trees be "pruned correctly and regularly, ensuring that the characteristic beauty and naturalness of each species remains unchanged'.
Because, recalled the PAN, with these abusive pruning the trees no longer «create shade to protect the sun's rays, they start to contribute to the increase in the temperature of sheltered and surrounding spaces, make the environment more arid and polluted and stop absorbing CO2 (one of the gases responsible for the greenhouse effect) and to release oxygen'.
The recommendation was eventually approved by unanimously, with votes in favor of the PSD, CDS, PPM, MPT, PS and Left Block.
But to mark the International Day of Forests, celebrated this Thursday, the Chamber of Faro promoted the planting of a cork oak in Jardim da Alameda, near the trees that were pruned and which are literally bald, in an initiative carried out in partnership with the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests.
Questioned by Sul Informação on this controversy, Rogério Bacalhau began by explaining that “trees do not live forever”.
«We have already had situations here, in Jardim da Alameda, that could have created danger for people. Just a few weeks ago, during the night, a tree fell here. The ones we cut were also at risk,” he said.
According to the Farense mayor, "it is necessary to reconcile security, the life of the species and what we want for the Municipality."
“These trees seemed to be fine, when looking at them, but when analyzes were carried out, for example on the trunks, it was concluded that they could create risks. What we have been doing is replacing the trees that have to be cut down», he guaranteed.
According to Rogério Bacalhau, in the last three years “more than 600 trees” were planted in the municipality. "We already have a tender for the acquisition of more than 200", he also revealed.
Still, the president of the Chamber of Faro he did not hide that the controversy "is normal".
“This hasn't been done for many years and the cuts are strange. I realize that people don't like to see trees bald, but I have seen the same practice in other municipalities as well. We are not doing it for pleasure, but out of necessity, to guarantee the safety of people and the rehabilitation of the vegetation layer itself», he justified.
The mayor also made a point of remembering the Jardim da Alameda requalification project, whose work he wants to be released "this year".
This intervention foresees, precisely, the reforestation and replanting, as well as new lighting, new urban furniture, the design of new pedestrian circuits and the creation of new bathrooms and service areas.
Photos: Pedro Lemos | Sul Informação
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