In the riverbed Poyo ravine, as it passes through PaiportaOne tree survives, having earned its own place on the map of Spain's natural heritage. It is a centuries-old red eucalyptus, a copy of eucalyptus camaldulensis which, after years of withstanding floods and storms, has gone from being a well-known tree in the municipality to becoming a national landmark.
This Paiporta eucalyptus It stands out not only for its size and age, but also for what it represents to the neighborhood. After the DANA storm and the severe flooding of 2024, which devastated much of the ravine's surroundings, the tree managed to survive, becoming a symbol of resilience, memory, and hope for the town of l'Horta Sud.
A centuries-old eucalyptus tree that withstands floods and inundations
The specimen stands in the middle of the riverbed of Poyo RavineIn an area that has suffered several episodes of flooding over the decades, local accounts recall how the tree had already withstood previous floods, including major historical floods, and more recently the DANA storm of November 2024, which left very harsh images in Paiporta.
With an approximate height of about 20 meters tall and a crown that reaches four meters in widthThe eucalyptus tree stands out visually in the middle of the riverbed. Part of its ability to withstand these natural onslaughts is due to its powerful root systemAccording to technical estimates, its roots can penetrate up to 35 meters into the ground, providing it with extraordinary stability even in extreme conditions.
During the 2024 flood, the overflowing water came down with great force, sweeping away vehicles, rocks, vegetation remains and all kinds of materialsResidents and city officials recall how the floodwaters literally reached the point where the tree's leaves now extend. Even so, the trunk remained firm and did not give way.
The incident, however, did not go without consequences. The eucalyptus tree lost a significant portion of its crown, with estimates suggesting that about a third or even half of the branches They disappeared with the flood. The trees were visibly damagedwith open wounds in the bark and remains of mud and reeds attached to the trunk.
Despite this, the eucalyptus tree is still alive and sprouting again today, and its silhouette has become established as Iconic image of Paiporta in the middle of the PoyoFrom the bridge and the higher areas of the municipality, its presence is immediately recognized and is associated with the town's ability to rebuild itself after natural disasters.
Legal protection and value within the Valencian tree heritage
The eucalyptus of Paiporta is included in the Catalogue of Monumental and Singular Trees of the Valencian CommunityThis official list recognizes specimens that, due to their age, size, history, or ecological and social relevance, deserve special protection from the administration.
Cataloging implies that the tree has a series of specific protection measures These regulations limit any actions that could damage it, both in terms of urban development and interventions on the riverbed and its immediate surroundings. Furthermore, its presence is taken into account in the adaptation and reconstruction works being carried out in the ravine following the DANA storm.
The institutional recognition of the eucalyptus adds to others unique spaces and specimens scattered throughout the Valencian Community, some of them also located in the province of Valencia. Among this group of protected trees, the one in Paiporta stands out both for its size and for the collective narrative that has been built around it, closely linked to local identity and the memory of the floods.
Conservation efforts have not been limited to legal protection. Following the 2024 incident, technical teams and municipal staff carried out a series of emergency interventions to ensure the tree could continue to thrive. Among the first measures were cleaning the trunk and roots of mud, silt and reeds, which had become embedded after the passage of water.
Subsequently, the following were applied phytosanitary treatmentsas the fungicides and insecticidesThis was done to prevent infections and pest infestations in the damaged areas. All of this has contributed to the specimen remaining in good overall condition, despite the visible scars on its structure.
From disaster to hope: the tree that became a neighborhood symbol
The community's relationship with the eucalyptus tree goes beyond botanical data. Many residents remember it as part of the everyday landscape since childhood, a landmark on their walks through the ravine or on traditional access routes to the area. There are numerous accounts that place it as a silent companion of several generations of Paiportinosand his role as part of the everyday landscape strengthens that connection.
After the DANA storm, the tree went from being just another element of the environment to an emblem of collective overcomingIn a context of material damage, affected homes and a much altered landscape, the fact that the eucalyptus tree remained standing was perceived as a gesture of resistance shared by a large part of the municipality.
A month after the flood, and in the middle of the Christmas season, the residents decided turning a eucalyptus tree into a Christmas treeThe tree was adorned with lights and decorations, transforming into a meeting place, a memorial, and a tribute to all that had been experienced. This symbolic gesture further reinforced its role as an emotional emblem of the town.
In testimonies gathered by various media outlets, many people emphasize that the eucalyptus tree has survived. to various previous floodsand it was already there when major historical floods occurred. For some families, it forms part of their childhood memories and everyday life near the ravine.
From the municipal level, it has been emphasized that the tree, in a way, symbolizes the recent history of Paiporta: a town battered by extreme weather events, but which perseveres. The eucalyptus, rooted in collective memory, it has thus become a visible metaphor for that resistance.
National recognition: second place as Tree of the Year 2026
The leap from the local to the national level came with the competition Tree and Forest of the Year in Spain, an initiative promoted by the NGO Forests Without Borders since 2007. The competition seeks to focus on unique trees and forest formations throughout the country, highlighting their importance as natural and cultural heritage.
In the 2026 edition, the candidacy of the eucalyptus tree of Paiporta achieved achieve second place in the Tree of the Year categoryThe proposal emphasized several aspects: its landscape value, its age, the stabilizing role of its roots in the terrain, and, above all, its resilience after the 2024 DANA storm, which consolidated it as a civic symbol; all within the framework of the debate about eucalyptus at the regional and national level.
The title of Forest of the Year 2026 went to the Sabinar de las Blancas, in the Puebla de San Miguel Natural Park (Valencia), an enclave of white junipers of great ecological value and with specimens thousands of years old. This result means that two Valencian forestry leaders They have been placed at the top of state recognitions, highlighting the importance of the Community's forest wealth.
The second-place finish of the eucalyptus tree in Paiporta not only reinforces its environmental importance, but also positions the municipality of The Horta Sud in the maps of initiatives dedicated to unique tree heritage. In the eyes of the general public, the tree has gone from being an unknown element at the national level to becoming a representative case of the struggle to conserve unique specimens.
This state competition, a pioneer in Europe, later gave rise to the continental prize. Tree of the Year, coordinated by the Alliance Foundation (Nadace PartnerstvÃ), which brings together various national initiatives. In this way, the visibility of trees like the eucalyptus of Paiporta It can transcend Spanish borders and serve as an example in other European countries.
Awareness, conservation and future of the eucalyptus of Paiporta
The recognition received has reignited the debate about the conservation of monumental trees in urban and peri-urban environments. In the case of Paiporta, the eucalyptus tree is located in an area where improvement and reconstruction works are being carried out on the Poyo ravine, which makes it necessary to reconcile hydraulic safety with the preservation of the specimen.
The institutions involved emphasize that these types of trees not only fulfill an ecological function, but also possess a cultural, social and educational valueSetting an example for schoolchildren, visitors and the general public helps to reinforce the idea that natural heritage goes beyond large parks or protected areas and also extends to specific elements of the everyday landscape.
The experience of the eucalyptus tree in Paiporta highlights the need to design management strategies that integrate and protect unique trees. Episodes of torrential rain, or DANAs (isolated high-altitude depressions), which are becoming increasingly frequent and intense in the Mediterranean basin, pose an additional challenge for centuries-old trees located in riverbeds and other sensitive areas.
Various voices in the environmental field suggest that the recognition as Tree of the Year should not be seen as an end point, but as a impetus to continue caring and monitoring Its condition. Monitoring its health, periodically reviewing its structure, and assessing the impact of the works on the environment will be key to ensuring its survival in the medium and long term.
Meanwhile, the eucalyptus tree remains a near-obligatory stop for those strolling through the area or visiting to learn firsthand the story behind the award. The combination of human narrative, ecological value, and resilience in the face of extreme weather events positions it as one of the most significant trees of the province of Valencia nowadays.
With everything that has happened in recent years and the recent national recognition, the eucalyptus tree of Paiporta has gone from being just another tree in the landscape of the Poyo ravine to becoming a a benchmark of Valencian natural heritage: a specimen protected by law, deeply linked to the memory of the municipality, which has withstood floods and storms and which today serves to highlight the importance of preserving unique trees in Spain and throughout Europe.
