Citizen-Led Initiative Maps Urban Trees Across Spain

• More than 500 associations and 150 municipalities are participating in the second annual 'National Eco-Mapping: A Tree Is Missing Here!' (Ecomapeo Estatal: ¡Aquí falta un árbol!) initiative on October 3-4.
• Participants identify empty tree pits, dead stumps, and poorly maintained trees to report on the 'ecomapa.org' platform, providing evidence to demand urban greening improvements from local governments.
• The initiative has doubled in size since its 2025 launch, focusing on decentralized, community-based action to tackle urban heat islands.

Origins and Motivation

• The movement originated seven years ago in the Valdeolleros neighborhood of Córdoba, where residents grew frustrated with the lack of progress on local climate pledges.
• The project prioritizes collective action over individual lifestyle changes, emphasizing the need for neighborhood-level organizing to push for tangible, long-term environmental infrastructure.

Demands for Urban Canopy

• Organizers highlight that trees are essential for cooling cities, capturing atmospheric dust, improving human health, and supporting biodiversity.
• Beyond merely planting new trees, the coalition advocates for:
  • Ensuring adequate soil volume for root growth.
  • Selecting species appropriate for specific local environments.
  • Ending practices like severe, destructive pruning.
  • Implementing long-term maintenance of existing urban forests.