Bologna, August 25, 2026 – In the end, the great plane tree on via Lombardi broke under the fury of the storm last night. The trunk of the tree – for which the Besta Committee and other environmental groups had fought to block its removal, planned by the Municipality due to the “extreme danger” of the specimen – gave way to wind and rain, causing the crown and branches to fall inside the garden of the Casaralta elementary school, remaining precariously balanced on the fence that borders the courtyard.
A narrowly avoided tragedy, considering that the fall of the green giant could have happened at any other time, on a street heavily trafficked by cars, cyclists, and pedestrians of Bolognina: opposite the elementary school, there is also the parish of the Holy Guardian Angels.
The struggle of the plane tree
The opposition of environmentalists to the tree cutting started some time ago, in mid-July, when signs appeared along the street addressed to citizens warning of works that would lead to “removals,” dating back before the wave of severe weather in July that hit the city area. Lack of clarity pushed green associations to intervene, even in the City Council, in protest. Fifteen days ago, on August 10, a group of activists managed to “avert” the pruning, driving away the workers of the company assigned to the job.
The tree reported for ‘high probability of trunk breakage’
And the Municipality had clarified: “The inspections confirmed a very serious situation. The technical assessment places the plane tree in class Cpc D – Extreme Danger. Dendrodensitometric tests detected severe alterations of the internal woody tissues. On the trunk there is a necrotic area, associated with the presence of Phellinus, extending from 4 to 9 meters in height and expanding compared to previous instrumental analyses. The technical assessment highlights a high probability of trunk breakage.”
A high probability of trunk breakage that, in the end, materialized.
The Municipality: “Reported risk was real”
“The risk we reported was real. You cannot prevent safety measures from being carried out without also taking responsibility for what may happen,” declares the councilor Simone Borsari.
“What happened in recent hours is a very serious matter and unfortunately confirms the reasons for the technical assessments that led the Municipality to order the removal of the plane tree on via Lombardi. The tree had been classified as extremely dangerous and the agronomists had highlighted a high probability of trunk breakage. Faced with protests, we chose to stop and conduct further investigations. We did this also to listen to the observations that had been made, and the methodology of the new inspections, as well as the choice to preserve the wood to make it available for further studies and to make it a case study, had been agreed with the agronomist indicated by the Green Council. Those inspections again confirmed the need to intervene. Despite this, at the attempt to remove it, we faced yet another protest that forced us to postpone the intervention and reschedule it,” continues the councilor.
“It is legitimate – concludes Borsari – to have different opinions on green management and to contest the Administration’s decisions. But when a technical assessment signals an extreme danger situation, you cannot prevent safety measures from being carried out without also taking responsibility for what may happen. Today I believe those who protested against that intervention must seriously reflect on what happened. And a reflection also concerns the Green Council. Dialogue with the Council and associations is important and the Municipality will continue to listen to everyone. But listening also means knowing when a technical assessment on people’s safety must prevail. Protecting the tree heritage is a responsibility of the Administration, as is protecting public safety.”
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