Porto City Council orders urgent removal of 19 trees

The Porto City Council has ordered the “urgent removal” of 19 trees on Avenida dos Aliados following an extraordinary technical assessment. This decision follows an incident on August 16, where a large tree fell during the Volta a Portugal event, causing minor injuries to three people.

Municipal services identified structural risks in 19 specimens of the Acer platanoides ‘Deborah’ and Acer platanoides ‘Crimson King’ species, citing issues such as dead wood, rot, cavities, and unbalanced canopies. Porto Mayor Pedro Duarte stated that the decision is not based on landscape preferences but is a technical evaluation to prevent risks to public safety and property.

Authorities noted that pruning or partial removal would not sufficiently guarantee safety and could potentially worsen the structural instability of the trees. The council has committed to a progressive renewal of the avenue's greenery, including the monitoring of 37 remaining trees of these varieties and the replanting of trees in 15 currently empty pits.