Jacarandas Under the Axe: Are Trees Being Cut Down in Santa Cruz Due to Reconstruction?
In Santa Cruz, environmentalists are protesting a plan to cut down jacarandas on Puerto Escondido Street, arguing that the trees can be cured rather than destroyed for the sake of reconstruction.
In the city of Santa Cruz, there are plans to cut down the jacarandas that have adorned Puerto Escondido Street for many years. This street is the main thoroughfare connecting Suarez Guerra with San Clemente. Environmentalists from the "Trees Speak" group stated that the trees are to be removed because they are allegedly diseased and could fall on passers-by.
However, "Trees Speak" doubts that the trees are actually diseased. They say that the trees have branches and flowers, which means they are alive. And that is not a reason to cut them down.
In their video message, environmentalists explain that the trees became diseased due to poor care. They have not been looked after for years: they have not been watered, treated, fertilized, or provided with proper soil. "Sick trees need to be treated, not cut down!" they exclaim.
Environmentalists also add that the trees are covered with cables and light bulbs because the city authorities use them as lighting poles. These cables damage the bark and harm birds, people, and the trees themselves.
"Perhaps the trees are sick, but they can be cured. There is a special method – endotherapy. This is when medicine is injected into the trunk, which does not harm nature or people," says "Trees Speak".
Environmentalists also ask when the city authorities last watered these jacarandas. They believe that the trees are simply dying of thirst.
Therefore, environmentalists criticize the city authorities for not caring about the value of the trees. "They allow them to die, especially the jacarandas, which clean the air very well," they say.
Puerto Escondido Street is scheduled for a complete reconstruction next year. Carlos Tarife, an advisor on public utilities, announced that the reconstruction project has already been approved and one million euros have been allocated from the budget of the Canary Islands for it.
Work will begin in the second half of next year. The street is to be made more pedestrian-friendly, improve sidewalks, install new lighting, relocate garbage cans, and plant new trees.
Puerto Escondido Street is 266 meters long. There is currently a pedestrian zone and a road for transport. There are also two parking lots.