More than 80 trees are scheduled to be cut down in the centre of Rome at 09.30 on Monday 1 July as part of construction works for the Metro C project, according to Italian newspaper La Repubblica.

The 84 trees facing the chop are located at the Roman Forum, Porta Metronia, and various streets in the S. Giovanni district. The trees at risk include 24 pines, planes and palms along Via dei Fori Imperiali.

Local residents have pledged to hold a protest between Via Cavour and Via dei Fori Imperiali at the same time, after learning of the tree cutting from leaflets distributed in recent days.

The residents hope to block the tree cull or, failing that, gain guarantees that the trees won't be chopped down in vain, such as the 10 cut in Piazza Venezia for a now-abandoned access route to the Metro C.