Petition to halt tree cutting in Old San Juan surpasses 2,000 signatures.

For residents and frequent visitors, the removal of mature trees has already altered the character of Old San Juan’s most iconic walkways, including the once-shaded Paseo La Princesa. (Wikipedia/P. Hughes)

By THE STAR STAFF

A growing public outcry over a government plan to cut down more than 50 trees between La Fortaleza and Castillo San Felipe del Morro has intensified in Old San Juan, where a digital petition surpassed 2,000 signatures as of Sunday, urging authorities to stop the project.

The plan, led by the Puerto Rico Highways and Transportation Authority, is part of a broader initiative to improve streets and pedestrian areas in the historic district, Transportation and Public Works Secretary Edwin González Montalvo said. But for residents and frequent visitors, the removal of mature trees has already altered the character of the city’s most iconic walkways, including the once-shaded Paseo La Princesa.

In the petition, residents describe witnessing “the devastation that tree cutting causes,” noting that a large tree was removed just last week, eliminating not only natural beauty but also essential shade and habitat for local wildlife. They argue that dozens of trees have been cut down in recent years and that many of the replacements have failed to thrive.

For the community, the issue is deeply personal. Generations have grown up surrounded by the greenery that softens the stone and brick of the 500-year-old city.

“Old San Juan is not just a place full of history and culture; it is an ecosystem that must be protected for future generations,” the petition states.

Environmental concerns also feature prominently. Citing data from the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, the petition notes that areas with abundant vegetation can experience temperature reductions of up to 5°C (9°F) during the summer months. Large trees, it adds, can absorb up to 150 kilograms of carbon dioxide per year, making them vital in mitigating climate impacts in an already heat‑vulnerable urban zone.

The petition calls for an immediate halt to unnecessary tree cutting, the preservation of existing shade canopies, and the planting of new large‑species trees. It also urges the government to conduct thorough environmental evaluations before authorizing removals and to involve the community in reforestation efforts.

With more than 180 trees of 18 species identified in the affected corridor -- and over 50 marked for removal -- residents say the stakes are high. For them, the trees are not ornamental; they are part of the daily life, identity and livability of the walled city.

The petition concludes with a call to collective responsibility. Protecting the environment, it says, is essential “to ensure a greener and healthier future for our children and their children.”