Urgent actions on trees at risk of falling on UAB campus

The UAB has launched an urgent action plan for trees on campus with the aim of guaranteeing safety in areas that have been detected as a risk for the circulation of people, cars or physical goods. The aim is to act on dead trees or trees with structural damage with a high risk of falling that have been affected by the drought situation Catalonia is currently experiencing, and particularly those affected by the recurrence of drought episodes in recent years. In other cases, the actions will consist of pruning associated with ordinary forest management.

In the wooded areas, which account for 80 hectares, near buildings and roads, the actions will be focused mainly on the areas bordering these buildings or roads, where priority will be given to crown lifting, i.e. the selective removal of branches that may be dangerous due to their height, and maintenance pruning, eliminating the weak, dry or poorly oriented branches, while also tending to other situations that may generate a risk of falling. In areas with a higher density of trees, thinning will be carried out to strengthen the oaks and holm oaks.

The large trunks will be removed and taken to a composting plant where they will be converted into organic fertiliser, while the small trunks and plant debris will be left in situ, chopped up, to enrich the soil and maintain humidity.

In the green areas, initially 35 trees out of a total of 3,053 will be treated in the same way.

The work will be carried out during the month of July.

Measures that foster biodiversity

The UAB Office of Sustainability has launched a series of measures to foster biodiversity on campus, such as cutting the grass less often, more selectively or respecting the natural evolution in landscaped and agroforestry areas. Other measures include the placement and monitoring of nest boxes and the replacement of some trees with other riparian species more suitable for a landscaped area used as for leisure activities and more adapted to drought conditions.

Two insect hotels are also located on campus to encourage nesting and pollination.

For more information please visit: UAB Environment website