Italy faces widespread urban tree removal and decline

Italian cities are experiencing widespread tree removal and decline, driven by a combination of financial, legal, and biological factors. In cities such as Rome, Bologna, Florence, and Verona, thousands of trees have been cut down.

One primary driver is the expiration of EU PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan) funds on June 30. Because these funds are restricted to construction and restructuring rather than ongoing maintenance, municipalities have reportedly rushed to complete projects like tree removal to utilize the budget. Additionally, recent Supreme Court rulings have held municipalities liable for damages caused by storms and floods, incentivizing the removal of potentially unstable trees to avoid private compensation claims.

Separately, urban greenery in Rome is facing biological threats. Ecologist Andrea Bonifazi notes that many elm trees (Ulmus) are dying or appearing prematurely autumnal due to an infestation of the xanthogaleruca luteola beetle. This specific beetle targets elms while leaving neighboring plant species unaffected, contributing to the visible degradation of the city's urban canopy.