Karlovac Fells 40 Linden Trees for Square Renovation Amidst Opposition Protests

Karlovac, Croatia – The heart of the historic Zvijezda district is undergoing a controversial renovation, marked by the felling of approximately 40 linden trees. These trees, nearly 50 years old, lined the main square, but their removal has sparked significant opposition from local residents and political parties.

The project, based on a design selected in 2009, aims to modernize Trg bana Josipa Jelačića. While the plan includes retaining some trees for a future green market, the removal of the prominent linden trees has ignited protests. Opposition parties organized demonstrations and collected around 2,000 signatures on a petition, with an additional 2,000 citizens showing support online. They accuse the city government of disregarding public will.

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The practice shows that an adult tree must be in very good health to guarantee successful transplantation. This is not the case here.

City officials, however, maintain that the majority of the felled trees were in poor health and unsuitable for transplanting. Andrea Vrbanek, representing a commission on tree transplantation, stated that documentation from the city's Zelenilo company and a 2024 landscape study indicated the trees' compromised condition. "The practice shows that an adult tree must be in very good health to guarantee successful transplantation. This is not the case here," Vrbanek explained.

Ana Hranilović Trubić, head of the city's construction and environmental protection department, detailed the renovation's scope. The project covers over 8,000 square meters, divided into two sections: the old market area and the central square. The old market will see a new public toilet, accessible facilities, and storage for event equipment, topped by a transparent canopy. Eighteen new linden trees will be planted in this area within 50-square-meter green islands. The central square's redesign is also part of the larger plan, which includes a bypass for Zvijezda, funded by the ITU mechanism.

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The trees on the perimeter of Trg bana Jelačića are not in a good state of health.