Rome and Lido di Savio tree removals draw criticism over replacements

In the seaside district of Lido di Savio near Ravenna, officials cut down almost all the pine trees in the town centre and quickly covered the cleared areas with a concrete slab. Residents claim this contradicts earlier promises to replant trees, leaving benches in the sun and sparking complaints about the loss of the town’s main green asset.

Meanwhile, Rome’s municipal government released a tree balance for 2021‑2025, reporting that 29,000 trees were felled while 67,000 new trees were planted, resulting in a net increase of 37,000 trees. The city justified many removals on public‑safety grounds, noting 706 sudden tree collapses, but the figures have fueled protests and political debate ahead of upcoming elections.

Both cases illustrate growing tensions in Italian cities between urban‑green initiatives, safety concerns, and public expectations for tree replacement.