Naples – The dispute over the fate of one of the city's last centuries-old pine trees has flared up again. Friday, August 29th, has been set as the new date for the felling of the large tree on Via Netti, despite the mobilization of residents, environmental groups, and neighborhood committees.
Leading the protest once again is Carmine Attanasio, three-time president of the Naples City Council's Environmental Commission, who harshly denounces: "They just won't give up. Already at the end of July, thanks to a spontaneous citizen mobilization, we managed to prevent the demolition, together with Anna Savarese of Legambiente and Fabio Procaccini of LIPU."
The episode of the fire never clarified
Attanasio also recalls a disturbing episode: a few days after the first suspension of work, the pine tree caught fire. The worst was averted by the timely intervention of a citizen who raised the alarm. "That episode," the former Commission president emphasizes, "has not yet been fully clarified."
The challenge: "Party expert opinion, cross-examination is needed"
The crux of the matter concerns the appraisal submitted by the landowners, who requested the felling of not one, but both pine trees on Via Netti. The Municipality, only partially granting the request, authorized the felling of one tree, but did not order an independent assessment.
"We dispute that the pine tree poses a real threat," Attanasio explains, "and we're requesting a counter-assessment. We're talking about a century-old tree that should be recognized as a monument. The City can't simply accept the word of private individuals, who have an interest in cutting it down."
The shadow of the precedent on Via Aniello Falcone
The story is intertwined with a tragic precedent: in 2013, a fallen pine tree on Via Aniello Falcone cost the life of a teacher. Since then, Attanasio recalls, municipal officials have adopted an extremely cautious stance for fear of legal liability. "It's only human," he admits, "but this can't mean automatically accepting every request for felling."
The final appeal: "The Municipality must represent its citizens."
For environmentalists and residents, the tree on Via Netti is not just a botanical specimen but a true "arboreal patriarch," a symbol of Naples' green memory. Attanasio concludes with an appeal to the authorities: "A counter-assessment is needed, which the City Council cannot and will not undertake. This begs the question: where are those within the institutions who present themselves as environmentalists today?"
