Italy faces challenges over loss of urban tree heritage

Concerns are rising in Italy regarding the loss of urban tree heritage and the management of municipal greenery. In Montecatini Terme, the organization Italia Nostra Valdinievole has warned that the city is losing its identity and its arboreal heritage due to a succession of tree removals in public spaces, including avenues and parks.

Italia Nostra emphasizes that while removing dangerous trees is necessary, there must be a structural policy involving constant maintenance, correct pruning, and planned replacements. They argue that mature trees are strategic assets for thermal regulation, air quality, and biodiversity, particularly in a spa town where the landscape is central to its historical image.

In Santa Maria a Vico, local authorities have announced the unavoidable removal of two historic cedar trees on Via Appia. Following technical assessments and agronomic reports conducted between June 2024 and February 2026, the administration determined that the trees' structural and pathological deterioration posed an intolerable risk to public safety. Despite maintenance efforts, the municipality stated that felling the trees was the only solution to protect pedestrians and motorists.