Alarm in Palma: Neighborhood Resists Tree Felling on Plaza Llorenç Villalonga

Alarm in Palma: Neighborhood Resists Tree Felling on Plaza Llorenç Villalonga

Early on Saturday morning, hand-painted posters lay on the benches of Plaza Llorenç Villalonga, some in English, some in Mallorcan Spanish. Two women pressed down the corners, a cyclist stopped, looked and shook his head. The city's barrier tape was still attached to the lampposts; a sign announced "improvement works on the playground" – odd, because there has never been a playground here. Cars rolled along Passeig Mallorca, the voice of a bus driver echoed, and the winter sky over Palma was flat and gray.

Key question

Who decides whether municipal trees stay or are removed, and how transparent is that process for residents and environmental groups?

The facts are simple: People from the neighborhood, together with environmentalists, have initiated legal action after the city cordoned off the area around the affected trees, as reported in Controversia por 17 ombúes en la Plaza Llorenç Villalonga: ¿Quién decide sobre el verde urbano?. The lack of clarity – cordoning off instead of clear information, a sign about an alleged playground, mixed signals from the administration – has raised tensions. In a city where trees in streets, squares and parks shape the microclimate and the urban landscape, such decisions carried out over residents' heads are contentious.

Critical analysis

Urban tree felling touches on several levels: legal requirements, technical reports, ecological value and urban aesthetics. When the administration cordons off an area, people at least expect a written explanation with a date, the person responsible, the expert reports and a plan B. Instead, rumors arise: Removal or protection? Protests form on the square, posters with short slogans and outraged irony. Trust between the administration and residents is damaged.

Another problem is the lack of traceability: Were independent arborists consulted? Are there recent soil or root examinations? Which alternatives were considered – for example crown pruning, root aeration or redesigning the square without sacrificing the trees? Such technical details are often missing from public debate, yet they are decisive in cases like this.

What is missing from the public discourse

The discussion often focuses on the image of "cutting versus saving" and forgets the control instruments in between: binding maintenance plans, independent expert opinions instead of internal reports, and transparently communicated decision-making processes. Also rarely discussed is the long-term strategy – is there a municipal tree register with categories for protection, maintenance and emergency felling? Without that, ad hoc interventions are likely.

Everyday scene on the plaza

In summer, guests sit on the plaza with an espresso; in winter some residents place flower boxes on their windowsills, and children run by with small plastic shovels. The trees here are a meeting point for pigeons and provide shade in July. Today the posters hang: "Save our trees", "We want to be heard" and little drawings of crowns. The sounds of the city – delivery vans, conversations, the distant call of a market seller – do not make the protest loud, but they make it visible.

Concrete solutions

1) Immediate, temporary moratorium: No felling until an independent, publicly accessible report is available.
2) Independent expert assessments: Certified tree assessors and soil specialists should produce findings that residents can inspect.
3) Participation: A public meeting near the square, moderated by a neutral body, where questions, alternatives and the timetable are explained.
4) Preservation measures instead of reflexive felling: crown care, root aeration, improved soil structure and, if necessary, redesigning the square with protective zones for roots.
5) Long-term plan: Create a municipal tree register with priorities, maintenance standards and clear decision-making procedures so future measures are not carried out ad hoc.

Concise conclusion

The trees on Plaza Llorenç Villalonga are more than urban greenery; they are part of the neighborhood's everyday life. When decisions disappear behind barrier tape and obscure signs, resentment grows. A fair, comprehensible process – involving experts, residents and clear alternatives to the chainsaw – would not be a favor to the protesters, but smart urban management. The city administration should now provide transparency: put the facts on the table, allow independent inspections and take seriously the people who live here and use the squares every day, as local coverage such as Dispute over 17 Ombu Trees on Plaza Llorenç Villalonga: Who Decides on Urban Green? has described.