Neighbourhood Campaign Halts Tree Felling

After months of organised resistance, residents of Baix Guinardó have successfully prevented the removal of around twenty Siberian elms (Ulmus pumila) on Praga Street, some of which are more than seventy years old. The trees, located between Ronda del Guinardó and Camèlies Street, were initially set to be cut down as part of a city-wide street renovation project under the Pla Endreça, a municipal urban renewal initiative. Residents were informed by Barcelona City Council that the trees would be felled due to the species’ maintenance demands and potential damage during construction, with plans to replace them with smaller trees of a different species.

Community Action Leads to Reversal

In response, the local platform Salvem el Guinardó launched a campaign in September that included a signature drive, weekend awareness events, and the placement of informational signs on the affected trees. Their efforts culminated in a reversal announced last week by the Horta-Guinardó district government.

After months of mobilization, signatures, meetings, conversations, and much insistence, we can share news that makes us especially happy: the elms on Praga street are staying, they will not be touched.

The announcement was made by district councillor Sara Belbeida during the Baix Guinardó Neighbourhood Council meeting on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, held at the district headquarters on Ronda del Guinardó. According to Belbeida, a revised project will now preserve the existing trees in that stretch, while upgrading pavements and street furniture.

Revised Plans Include Accessibility Upgrades

The updated project also includes plans to plant new trees in the upper section of Praga Street, extending towards Vallseca Street in the Can Baró neighbourhood. This section will feature wider, more accessible pavements. The change follows a technical reassessment of the original felling proposal, which concluded that the trees could be maintained without compromising the renovation works. The Pla Endreça, which funds urban improvements across Barcelona, includes a budget of 3.8 million euros for green space upgrades in multiple districts this autumn, according to the city council’s official website.

It is worth taking action and undertaking small collective actions for the neighbourhood that benefit everyone.

Salvem el Guinardó celebrated the outcome as proof that sustained civic engagement can influence urban policy. The full meeting agenda and details of the council session are available on the Horta-Guinardó district website and the Decidim Barcelona platform.

Primary sources: Barcelona City Council, ajuntament.barcelona.cat. Reported by elnacional.cat, Encuentro oficial, ajbcn-decidim-barcelona.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com, El Nacional.