Cort criticizes the "lack of real participation" in the replanting of trees in Llorenç Villalonga square
The organization has expressed regret that "what should have been a participatory process has been limited to meetings with the affected entities, but nothing more."
PalmFriends of the Earth Mallorca has rejected Palma City Council's project to replant 36 trees to replace the beautiful shade trees that were cut down in Plaça Llorenç Villalonga, arguing that there has been no genuine participatory process. In a statement, the organization lamented that "what should have been a participatory process has been limited to meetings with affected groups, both neighborhood associations and environmentalists, but nothing more." In their opinion, there has been no consensus because most of the suggestions and proposals put forward by these groups have not been incorporated. According to the environmentalists, the most represented species in the project (with 12 trees), the fruitless white mulberry, is significantly inferior to the beautiful shade trees that were felled.
Nor is there any plan to replace any of the beautiful shade trees that, they emphasized, "serve as a reminder of those that until recently gave this corner of the 'upper walled' area its unique character and special charm." In this regard, the organization criticized the fact that this last point was a neighborhood demand that was "completely ignored." Furthermore, Amics de la Terra does not plan to withdraw the administrative appeal it filed against the decision to cut down the trees. Finally, the organization has demanded that the City Council publicly "rectify" its claims about the existence of a project agreed upon with residents and environmental groups, stating that these claims "are absolutely false."
