Porto protects urban trees: another tree protecting order has been issued

Twenty-one more tree species are henceforth protected in Porto, in four different areas in the city, namely the trees in the Arca d’Água Gardens, in the garden of the Palace Burmester, in Porto Botanical Garden and in the North Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR-N) garden.

The classification refers to 12 specimens of the "Magnolia grandiflora" in Arca d’Água Garden; also to a horse-chestnut tree, an Himalayan cedar, a Tulip-tree and a Yew tree at the garden of the Palace Burmester, next to the Faculty of Sciences of the UP; the Texas strawberry tree and three Cedars of Java at Porto Botanical Garden, and a camphor tree in the garden of the North Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR-N).

Upon proposal of Porto City Hall, these tree species are now considered to be of public interest by the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF). The classification of the trees took into account the landscaping value and the historic dimension of the trees in the framework of the city’s past, as well as their national significance. The order by the ICNF has been published by the Official Gazette.

The ICNF classifies “of public interest” trees that stand out by their size, structure, lay-out, texture and form, age and rarity. This grants the trees the same protection the built patrimony, which means that the enveloping area within 20 metres of the tree base is also protected; any intervention within that area needs previous approval by the ICNF. Similarly, any interventions that can harm the classified trees are forbidden.