The initial plan was to hold two sessions, but due to the large number of interested participants, the local government has decided to combine them into a single session next Wednesday at a larger venue.
“Given the number of people registered and the many who were unable to gain access due to the limited capacity of the venue, it was decided to postpone and consolidate into a single technical clarification session, which will take place at Fórum Lisboa on Avenida de Roma, 14, next Wednesday, April 2, at 6:30 PM,” the city council announced in a statement.
This evening, at 6:30 PM, the first of two public presentation and clarification sessions on the Entrecampos project was scheduled, with the second set for April 2 at 5:30 PM. Both were to take place at the Lisbon Urban Information Center, with “free entry, subject to venue capacity.”
In the same announcement, the Lisbon City Council (CML) noted that they began planting new jacaranda trees today on Avenida 5 de Outubro and surrounding areas (10 new jacarandas planted today and five more planned for Saturday).
“CML reaffirms that, of the 75 jacaranda trees that were to be removed from that location, the current administration managed to save 50. Additionally, the planting of 200 more jacaranda trees in various locations throughout Lisbon is guaranteed,” the statement added.
In response, the Liberal Initiative (IL) in the Lisbon Municipal Assembly requested an “urgent hearing” of the council’s 4th Standing Committee — Environment and Green Structure, to provide “comprehensive clarification on the controversy” surrounding the removal of 47 jacarandas on Avenida 5 de Outubro, where the felling of 25 of these trees is expected.
Following this request, a hearing with the Councilor for Green Structure, Rui Cordeiro (PSD), has been scheduled for Thursday, April 3, at 4 PM at the Lisbon Municipal Assembly premises.
Within the stretch of Avenida 5 de Outubro in central Lisbon, according to the city council, there are 75 jacaranda trees, of which 30 will be maintained, 20 will be transplanted (alongside two plane trees), and the remaining 25 will be felled. Simultaneously, 39 jacarandas will be replanted, along with 49 other trees.
The construction of an underground parking lot is part of the urban development operation in Entrecampos, on the former grounds of the Feira Popular.
Opposing this process, the petition “No to the felling of jacarandas on Av. 5 de Outubro,” created on Friday, March 21 — Arbor Day, has gathered over 51,500 signatures as of today.
On Thursday, after a meeting with the city council and the promoter of the Entrecampos urban project, a group of petitioners against the felling of jacarandas stated that “there was no openness” to modify the planned actions.
Representing this petition, Pedro Franco emphasized the precautionary measure submitted by PAN to suspend the transplanting of these trees, hoping that it will allow more time to “apply pressure” on the promoters to change what was contractually agreed upon.
The city council initiated “preparatory work” for transplanting 20 jacaranda trees from Avenida 5 de Outubro on Thursday, and today began planting new trees of this species, according to the office of the mayor, Carlos Moedas (PSD).
A source from the Avenidas Novas Parish Council, led by Daniel Gonçalves (PSD), mentioned they were “caught by surprise” with the planting of jacaranda trees on Avenida 5 de Outubro starting at 10 AM today, claiming there was no prior notice from the municipal administration.
In regard to the entire process, the Avenidas Novas Parish Council has yet to make a public statement.
This morning, the Union Movement for the Defense of Trees (MUDA) was present on Avenida 5 de Outubro, where they displayed protest banners against the felling of jacarandas, reading, for instance, “the CML must stop killing trees.”
During a public meeting of the municipal executive on Wednesday, the PSD/CDS-PP leadership reiterated the plan is to “fell fewer and plant more” jacaranda trees on Avenida 5 de Outubro, while the PS and PCP pointed out that the initial project did not include any felling.
[Updated at 5:44 PM]
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