Tree-felling protest continues in Rome

The protest over tree felling in the S. Giovanni area of Rome stepped up a gear on 23 September when local residents and environmentalists chained themselves to trees in the green area of Porta Metronia.

The protest followed a similar action that took place the week before on nearby Via Sannio and Viale Ipponio, where over 60 trees were also cut to make way for the city's troubled Metro C project.
On the morning of 23 September about 50 people occupied the construction site in Porta Metronia, a green area which has strong links to the local residents, some of whom have personally tended to the park over the years.

The protesters chained to trees blocked chainsaw work for several hours until police cut their chains and moved them away.

The city's transport councillor Guido Improta was also on the scene to give the go-ahead to the operation, which saw 11 large trees cut down including five pines, four plane trees, one elm and a privet, a member of the olive family.

The 11 trees are part of the 109 identified for felling by the city.

The protests will continue on Tuesday 24 September with a public meeting scheduled at 18.00 in the gardens of Porta Metronia.