Summary:
Lisbon City Council begins the removal of jacaranda trees earlier than scheduled.
Sara António, a local trader, protests by sitting on the excavation site.
PAN plans to file a legal injunction against the tree removal.
Petition against the removal has over 50,000 signatures.
Community meeting planned to discuss the tree removal issue.
Tree Removal Begins Amidst Protests
The Lisbon City Council has started the controversial removal of jacaranda trees along Avenida 5 de Outubro, which was originally scheduled for next week. The initiative is part of a project to construct an underground parking facility, involving the removal or transplantation of 45 jacarandas from this central avenue.
On Thursday, a local trader, Sara António, who has worked in the area for 35 years, staged a protest by sitting on the ground where the excavator was operating. Her act of defiance halted the work for several hours until a special intervention team arrived to escort her away from the site.
Legal Action and Community Response
The political party PAN has announced plans to file a legal injunction to stop the City Council's actions. Additionally, various community movements are challenging the decision. A petition titled "No to the Removal of Jacarandas on Avenida 5 de Outubro", launched on March 21—Tree Day, has already gathered over 50,000 signatures.
In response to the ongoing situation, a community meeting is scheduled for Sunday at 3 PM, at the section of Avenida 5 de Outubro between Rua da Cruz Vermelha and Avenida das Forças Armadas, inviting all citizens to express their discontent regarding the tree removal.
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