«Let's free the trees»: the appeal of the Italian Botanical Society

On National Tree Day, 21 November, established in 2013, the Sardinian section of the Italian Botanical Society asks all the municipal administrations of Sardinia to free the trees "unjustly" burdened by metal or concrete grids positioned on the flowerbeds, almost always of dimensions inadequate for the real needs of the root systems.

«These grids», they explain, «have no use for the trees: they only serve to extend the walkable surface of the sidewalks to the flowerbeds, and with their weight they compact the soil and greatly reduce its permeability to gaseous and water exchanges: all conditions that worsen the health of trees in our cities."

Also gone are the concrete covers that sometimes cover the flowerbeds, when they would instead need new soil and to be cleaned of waste. «We also ask that trees be replanted in all the empty flowerbeds, which are numerous in all urban centres, and that, where possible, the flowerbeds be expanded according to the needs of the trees' root systems», continues the note from the board of directors of the Sardinian section of the Society Italian botany.

«We therefore ask our Municipalities not only to free the trees unfairly burdened by the grids, but to intervene on those that are sick or damaged, often due to pruning carried out in ways and times that are not adequate for the needs of the various tree species».

It would then be desirable for municipal administrations with more than 15 thousand inhabitants to equip themselves with a tree registry and to produce a green balance sheet two months before the end of their administrative mandate.

«Every day is still useful for saving the trees and on December 14th an event will be held in Cuglieri during which, in collaboration with the children and staff of the Comprehensive Institute, the Montiferru Association and the local administrations, they will home to the "children of the thousand-year-old olive tree", sadly compromised during the 2021 fire", concludes the note.