Huesca is experiencing an open debate about its urban trees following the alert from the Árboles Vivos Huesca platform, which has counted at least 200 fewer trees in just one monthThe organization is demanding explanations and immediate measures to halt a trend that, they maintain, has a direct impact on the city's quality of life and climate.
According to the group, the disappearances have occurred since the end of August and affect different areas of the municipal area. Their registration is provisional and does not cover the entire urban area, so the real figure could be higher, they warn, while asking the administrations to review procedures and maintenance.
Where the losses occurred
The platform places the cases in several points: the Harineras industrial estate (more than thirty fellings), Park and ride parking, Padre Querbes Park, Los Olivos neighborhood and the land near the IES Pirámide. They also report the death of dozens of young specimens planted this year that They have not resisted the lack of irrigation and care.
Living Trees Huesca ensures that it has carried out a simple registration of affected trees, without full coverage of the city. Therefore, they insist that the scale of the problem may still be underestimated and call for transparency to understand its true scope.
Causes pointed out and debate on responsibility
The reasons cited are diverse: works and urbanizations, enfermedades, episodes of extreme heat, drought or maintenance deficienciesIn any case, the platform emphasizes that a tree in good condition rarely requires sudden felling, and that prevention and ongoing care are crucial.
Beyond the number, each lost copy represents less shade, less thermal regulation and less ability to filter pollutants and rainwaterIt also reduces habitat for urban wildlife and reduces the benefits to the physical and emotional well-being of citizens.
Replenishment: Is planting more enough?
The City Council has announced the planting of 491 trees throughout the year, a step the platform considers insufficient when measured in terms of ecosystem functions. They argue that "ecological arithmetic" does not allow a seedling to be compared to a mature specimen.
From the collective they remember that a tree needs between 15 and 20 years to provide significant shade, improve the air quality, and significantly stabilize temperatures. Therefore, they believe it is essential to ensure proper irrigation, substrate, tree pit size, and post-planting monitoring, in addition to choosing species suited to the local climate.
What the platform asks for
Living Trees Huesca has requested access technical reports regarding the state of the trees, as well as the reports on felling and new plantings. He also requested a meeting with the Councilors for Environment and Urban Planning, but has received no response so far, according to his statement.
The entity urges to convene a urgent meeting with neighborhood associations, environmental groups, educational centers and other social agents, and reactivate the Sectoral Council for the Environment as a stable workspace to address the problem with rigor.
A topic that transcends acronyms
The platform insists that the trees are not a party issue: they affect the almost 56.000 people living in Huesca and to the generations to come. They call for brave decisions, based on technical and scientific criteria, and clear schedules for prevention, replacement and maintenance.
The debate is not limited to a log count: it is about protect a green heritage that brings freshness, health, and urban quality. The figure of 200 lost specimens in one month, the reported black spots, and the requests for access to information and dialogue open a scenario in which institutional and social coordination will be key to changing course.
