TO Villa Allendein the Argentine province of Córdoba, an ancient this white about 300 years It is at the center of a dispute that intertwines environment, urban planning and justice. The tree, silent witness of the time e symbol of the native forest now almost disappeared (only 3% remains throughout the province), it is located along the Avenida Father Luchesse, A crucial road artery which connects Villa Allende to the city of Córdoba.
The municipality, supported by a recent verdict of justice local, has decided to proceed with the transfer of the treemotivating the choice with reasons of road safety. The project plans to move it by about 25-30 meters to allow theexpansion of the roadway.
However, forestry experts and biologists estimate that Quebracho has Only 20% probability of survival after transplantation. Some scientists say that a similar operation was successful for a tree of this size and seniority.
36 new seed specimens have been produced, but for citizens it will not be the same
The response from environmentalists, citizens and some legislators did not get to expect. The quebrachodefined “Wood metaphor that is gone”, It was at the center of a request for environmental protection – rejected by justice – to avoid his move.
The Guillermo Galliano activist denounced institutional myopia, while the legislator Luciana Echeverría spoke of A missed opportunity to defend the common good and environmental identity of the Region. For its part, the Mayor Pablo Cornet he said that, in addition to the transfer, 36 new seed specimens have been producedwith the goal to safeguard the genetic material of the tree.
But for many, this is not enough. Citizens do not want clones, but their living symbol. Meanwhile, the mobilization continues with also a petition to try to save him. Last Saturday, under the brancho branches, a music festival and a collective eventa real hug to the green giant in danger.
