Tree That Offered Shade at Sesvete Bus Stop Cut Down, Angering Residents

Residents of Sesvete, Croatia, are outraged after a tree that offered crucial shade at a local bus stop was felled. The association Zelene i plave Sesvete has condemned the act, suggesting the tree was removed to make way for an advertising billboard.

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One less tree. One more big shame.

"One less tree. One more big shame," the association stated on social media, sharing photos of the now barren spot. They argue that removing public trees for advertising is an "attack on public space and the quality of life for all citizens."

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If a public tree was indeed cut down or severely damaged so that an advertisement would be better visible, it is not just an attack on a single tree – it is an attack on public space and the quality of life for all citizens.

Locals echoed the sentiment, with one resident lamenting, "The tree was our salvation during the heat at the station. It literally disappeared overnight." The association is calling on the City of Zagreb and relevant authorities to investigate who approved the removal, whether it was legally justified, and if a new tree will be planted in its place.

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The tree was our salvation during the heat at the station. It literally disappeared overnight.

"Trees are not obstacles. They cool streets, purify air, and protect people from increasingly frequent heatwaves," the group emphasized, highlighting the importance of preserving green spaces, especially in urban areas facing rising temperatures. They urged citizens to protect Sesvete's greenery "while we still have it."

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Trees are not obstacles. They cool streets, purify air, and protect people from increasingly frequent heatwaves.