The spokesperson for the Livre party, Rui Tavares, expressed on Sunday that “we cannot sacrifice what is beautiful, good, and practical in our city for the interests of a real estate developer,” in response to the announcement of the removal of jacaranda trees on Avenida 5 de Outubro in Lisbon.
“These people here are defending the beauty in their city, and that’s no small matter. To be free, we also need beauty in our lives, in our cities. Moreover, they are defending what is good for people’s health—an unpolluted city, a cooler street, making it better for people who walk in this area,” he mentioned during a demonstration to protect these trees, in statements to SIC Notícias.
He further emphasized, “We cannot sacrifice what is beautiful, good, and practical in our city in favor of a real estate developer, whom Carlos Moedas [Mayor of Lisbon] is unable to confront.”
“The fact is, cutting down an old tree as Carlos Moedas and the developer who wants to create a parking lot intend to do, only to either transplant them or plant new trees in a much smaller area due to a parking lot underneath, means they will not be as lush and offer the comfort they currently provide, especially when there is plenty of space to do things differently, and public transportation is available in this area of the city,” he added.
Rui Tavares also highlighted the stark difference in the summer between walking along this avenue and others, such as Avenida das Forças Armadas, which is quite harsh since it has parks without trees and substantial sun exposure, underscoring the historical aspect tied to these tree specimens.
“It is no coincidence that jacarandas are on 5 de Outubro. All these newer avenues were designed, each with its own distinctive trees, and have been here since the late 19th century,” he stated.
Lisbon City Council started planting new jacarandas on Avenida 5 de Outubro and surrounding areas (10 new jacarandas were planted on Friday and five on Saturday), and postponed the planned clarification session due to high interest in participation.
“Considering the number of registered individuals and many who could not attend due to the room’s limited capacity, it was decided to postpone and consolidate into a single technical clarification session to be held at the Fórum Lisboa on Avenida de Roma, 14, next Wednesday, April 2, at 6:30 PM,” according to a statement to Lusa.
In this section of Avenida 5 de Outubro, at the center of Lisbon, 75 jacaranda trees exist, of which 30 will be preserved, 20 will be transplanted (along with two plane trees), and the remaining 25 will be cut down. Meanwhile, 39 jacarandas will be replanted along with 49 other trees.
“Lisbon City Council reaffirms that of the 75 jacarandas slated for removal, the current administration managed to save 50. Additionally, the planting of 200 more jacarandas in various locations throughout the city of Lisbon is ensured,” it reads.
The issue arises from plans to construct an underground parking lot as part of the urban development at Entrecampos on the former site of the Feira Popular.
A public petition titled “No to the removal of jacarandas on Av. 5 de Outubro”, created on Friday, March 21—Arbor Day—had collected over 53,250 signatures as of today.
On Thursday, following a meeting with the city council and the developer of the Entrecampos urban project, a group of petitioners opposing the removal of jacarandas stated that “there was no willingness” to change the planned course of action.
