Tree felling in Ourense and Zamora sparks environmental controversy

Controversy has erupted in Spain following reports of significant tree felling in Ourense and Zamora. In the As Lagoas neighborhood of Ourense, the public company Adif conducted a nighttime removal of nearly all trees in a 2,000-square-meter ecological corridor. Residents and environmental groups, including Amigas das Árbores, claim the action was disproportionate, leaving only seven trees standing in a space that previously served as a biodiversity refuge. While Adif cited railway safety as the reason, critics argue that selective pruning could have achieved the same goal without destroying decades of growth.

In the municipality of Ferreras de Abajo, Zamora, the PSOE has filed a formal complaint with the Territorial Environmental Service of the Junta de Castilla y León. The complaint concerns the removal of large, potentially centenarian trees. Local political groups are calling for official inspections to determine who authorized the work and whether the intensity of the clearing exceeded permitted levels for simple maintenance or brush clearing.