The announcement was made by the leader of the PAN party, Inês de Sousa Real, in a statement to journalists on Avenida 5 de Outubro, Lisbon, next to the first jacaranda tree removed by the Lisbon City Council.
Inês de Sousa Real stated that the party will file an injunction later today to “immediately halt the felling and transplanting of these trees” and “promote citizen consultation and find an alternative.”
The PAN leader argued that the country “has serious commitments to biodiversity protection” and that, although jacaranda trees are not protected species, “they are part of the city’s identity” and have a “landscaping significance in the arboriculture that must be preserved.”
Although operations are already underway, Sousa Real believes that the injunction can still prevent the work from proceeding, noting that this is an “urgent process” and that the Lisbon City Council, following the submission of this request, will have to await the court’s decision.
“In fact, we had not filed the injunction earlier because Carlos Moedas said he would listen to the citizens. This is a clear disregard for democracy. Saying he will listen to the citizens and then cutting down the trees demonstrates an absolutely unacceptable arrogance and presumptuousness in democracy,” she added.
Some supporters of the cause present at the location affixed a poster on the first jacaranda targeted by the council’s work, featuring Carlos Moedas, the Mayor of Lisbon, with the message: “Wanted for environmental crime. Reward: a city with more biodiversity.”
A source from the office of Lisbon’s Mayor, Carlos Moedas (PSD), confirmed to Lusa that transplantation operations of jacaranda trees are in progress on Avenida 5 de Outubro, noting that in a press conference held on Tuesday, the municipal director of Green Spaces, Catarina Freitas, explained that “priority would be given to transplants,” as they need to be completed within a specific time window for success.
The same source indicated that a meeting is scheduled today between a group of petitioners and the councilor for Urban Planning, Joana Almeida (an independent elected by the “New Times” coalition PSD/CDS-PP/MPT/PPM/Aliança), stating that this meeting will take place in Campo Grande.
The petition “No to the felling of jacarandas on Av. 5 de Outubro,” created on Friday, March 21 — Arbor Day, today gathers over 49,000 signatures.
