Cuenca groups launch citizen mapping of urban tree deficits

Local neighborhood and environmental groups in Cuenca have formed the EcoMapeo-Cuenca Local Group to participate in the national ‘¡Aquí falta un árbol!’ (A tree is missing here!) campaign. Scheduled for October 3 and 4, this citizen science initiative will take place simultaneously in over 350 municipalities across Spain.

Volunteers will use mobile phones to geolocate specific urban vegetation issues, including empty tree pits, dry stumps, dead trees, and ‘suffocating pits’ where cement or restricted perimeters hinder growth. The goal is to collect precise data on the deficit of shade and greenery in public spaces to present technical reforestation proposals to the local city council.

Organizers emphasize that urban trees are essential for public health, serving as climate refuges that reduce temperatures, improve air quality, mitigate noise, and lower biological stress and blood pressure in residents. The initiative follows previous climate-related actions, such as the 2025 ‘Termometrada Estatal’, which addressed the need for cities to adapt to climate emergencies.