The more time passes, the more we are realizing how Andria is becoming similar to Coketown, the coal town of Dickens’ “Hard Times”, with its houses blackened by soot, the smoke from the chimneys rising into the sky like serpents, the clanking of machinery and machine-like people; it would seem that we are facing the same scenario!
Despite the not exactly alarming data disclosed by the “Remember Respect” forum following the surveys of airborne pollutants carried out in the period December 2023 – February 2024, a certain unbreathable area is undeniable, especially in some key points of urban roads, which are particularly under stress. One reason lies in the significant presence (almost 20%) of Euro 0 and Euro 1 (highly polluting) vehicles which continue to circulate on our roads. The data is linked to another: Bat is the province with the highest number of stolen carswith an average of 1035.99 complaints per 100,000 inhabitants. It is obvious that this leads to a common distrust in investing personal resources in the purchase of new carsresulting in obsolescence of the car fleet.
Greenery in Andria is increasingly becoming a luxury, in fact second Coldiretti We only have Puglia 15 trees per 100 inhabitants. To see clearly, we ask Dr. for an opinion. Ambrogio Lamestaagronomist and former environmental councilor of Andria:
What do you think of the current situation of green areas in the municipality of Andria?
«The situation of the green areas in Andria is simply disastrous but, let’s be clear, it does not differ from those of the neighboring municipalities (Barletta, Trani, Canosa, etc.). Despite some thinking to the contrary, in our city green areas are few and poorly managed. Andria has a heritage of public green areas of approximately 20 hectares open to citizens, half of which is present in the Villa Comunale. To these must be added approximately 10 hectares of greenery belonging to the schools. For accessible greenery, i.e. municipal greenery (20 ha), we have an impact of 2 m2 on average per resident.”
In your experience and professionalism, what would be appropriate for the administration to do to improve the situation?
«If we consider the small parks, they are semi-abandoned, ordinary maintenance is provided (grass cutting), but operations such as the removal of secums, the management of the growth of the tree, the maintenance of the shrubs are not implemented. , essential operations for these small parks and their livability.
In addition to public parks, street trees must be mentioned. Here the situation is decidedly more disastrous. Many trees are pruned in a completely “crazy” way. Most of these ornamental trees do not need systematic pruning. Then pollarding operations are carried out on the main branches without making return cuts. I understand that we are talking about technical things, but a good agronomist, with experience in public green areas, knows them well.
Finally, some tree pathologies are not managed, such as the holm oak scale insect, which has infested this evergreen oak for many years. This tree is very present in our urban roads (Piazza Municipio, Viale Roma, areas adjacent to Piazza dei Cappuccini). This parasite is killing many trees, but some can be saved with a technique consisting of treatments and pruning and the gradual replacement of those that are now dry, replacing them with trees of other species.
Nothing is done and this will lead to the decline and extinction of a large part of our green heritage.
The municipal administration can do a lot through tree planting, but it must be done at the right time, with the right species and in suitable places. Up to now the Administration has not shown much sensitivity regarding the management of greenery, either due to political choice or due to management shortcomings in this sector”.
What role should private individuals have in improving city greenery?
«Private individuals can have a great role, but unfortunately there is a lack of sensitivity to include greenery in their projects, especially in the most important and expensive ones. We limit ourselves to simple architectural and chromatic furnishings (handkerchiefs of lawn and a few palm trees). Many private homes that have greenery should be managed more and better and not carry out pruning which looks more like ‘mutilation’ which causes the tree to deteriorate over time.”
The Dr. Lamesta, with his usual lucidity and crudeness, puts us at a crossroads. Will we all be able to change direction together and create a more livable city, our city?
We owe it to ourselves, we owe it to future generations.
Know aude!
Friday 10 May 2024
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