some of the plants cut in the Officine Trenitalia area
Over thirty plants were cut down in the area of the former OGR, the Trenitalia workshops in Rimini. A sudden and widespread massacre reported to the WWF and environmentalist associations by the residents of the area themselves. These are trees of different species and also of large dimensions, explains Antonio Brandi, including a beautiful specimen of cedar, which for decades have offered shade against the summer heat and purified the air of pollutants, also giving shelter to a rich biodiversity. However, the associations are wondering the reason for the cut. “Of course, if a tree is sick and at risk of falling it must be replaced. And it is positive, let’s be clear, that the city’s green heritage is kept under control and constantly rejuvenated, as is being done. But this work must be done gradually and giving priority to plants in more serious conditions, in the period allowed by the Green Regulations, not in spring” explains Brandi.
“In this case – continues the spokesperson of the environmental coordination – Had 30/40 plants suddenly become sick all at once by June 2024? And were all of them at risk of falling immediately? This doesn’t seem credible and in fact no one believes it. It all appears to be a simply bureaucratic application of the rules rightly aimed at guaranteeing people’s safety, but with very little attention to the function of trees in the city, and to the need to protect existing biodiversity. In fact, we are also in the middle of the bird nesting period there were certainly nests on the felled plants, as residents reported“. And seeing that Destroying the nests is a criminal offense and the associations have filed a complaint to the Rimini Forestry Carabinieri Command. “Those plants – adds Brandi – they would have been able to guarantee shade and coolness against the heat and heat waves in the coming months for all those who frequent the area, railway workers and residents, and give hospitality to all the varied biodiversity, which is part of our life. In reality, therefore, if there was a documented presence of trees at risk of falling, it was possible and necessary to intervene now only on those, dealing with the emergency but postponing the general cutting intervention until autumn, or at least after the summer. and replacement of trees. But evidently many citizens and institutions still lack, even in the face of the increasingly serious problems posed by ongoing climate change, real sensitivity and attention to the need to really protect the green heritage in every possible way, with large and small actions. and the natural values that guarantee our health and give quality to our living in the city“.
The associations announce the request for a meeting with the environment department and the entire administration to seek “to avoid or authorize plant cutting interventions in the future when birds are nesting, except for real, individual and documented emergencies, and we will evaluate in the meantime whether to request access to the documents to fully understand the reasons and real urgency of the intervention“. From environmentalists also comes the request to replace the felled plants within the year with other trees of equivalent importance and class e “not with saplings or bushes of little relevance to the ecosystem services provided to the city“.
