For generations, the dappled shade of the London plane tree has defined Barcelona’s most famous boulevards. But as the city adapts to the realities of a changing climate, these iconic trees are slowly giving way to new species better equipped to handle soaring temperatures and prolonged drought.
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In a strategic and gradual shift, Barcelona City Council is diversifying its urban forest. It is replacing the familiar plane trees with hardier alternatives like the European nettle tree (Celtis australis), the rosewood (Tipuana tipu), and the Chinaberry tree (Melia azedarach). This transformation directly responds to the increasing hostility of the urban environment, where extreme summer heat makes life difficult for people and plants alike.
For decades, the plane tree was the quintessential urban tree, not just in Barcelona but across Europe. Its resilience, generous summer canopy, and ability to let winter sun through its bare branches made it an ideal choice. The trees also acted as natural barriers against strong winds, helping to regulate building temperatures. However, climate change has altered the equation, and the species is now struggling. Furthermore, public sentiment has shifted, with a growing number of residents complaining about allergies linked to the plane tree’s pollen.
A Master Plan for a Greener Future
This managed retreat of the plane tree is part of the city’s ambitious Tree Master Plan for 2017-2037. The plan aims to foster biodiversity and resilience, ensuring no single tree species makes up more than 15% of the city’s total tree population.
According to figures reported by La Vanguardia, plane trees accounted for 30% of Barcelona’s public trees in 2010; that figure is now down to 27.45%. The city currently has 43,639 plane trees, and the council aims to reduce this to no more than 19,523 by 2037.
However, this is not a mass felling. Officials at the Municipal Institute of Parks and Gardens (Parcs i Jardins) are taking a cautious approach, primarily replacing trees that die naturally or must be removed for public works. This respectful methodology means the transformation is progressing more slowly than initially projected and may extend beyond the 2037 deadline.
“The new model for Barcelona’s trees seeks to increase biodiversity and reduce the risk associated with pests and extreme climate events,” sources at Parcs i Jardins explained. “We want to guarantee that the urban green continues to provide well-being and comfort to citizens with a mosaic of species much more resistant to the latest climate challenges.”
While the plane trees will be reduced, they won’t disappear entirely. They will remain the dominant feature on historic thoroughfares such as La Rambla, Gran Via, and the elegant Passeig de Gràcia, whose urban character is inextricably linked to their presence. The changes are part of a wider focus on the city’s climate resilience and environmental health, complementing policies like the Low Emission Zone.
The Urgent Case of the Date Palm
While the phase-out of the plane tree is deliberate and slow, the removal of another species, the date palm, has become far more urgent. Long considered an exotic and fashionable addition to the urban landscape, the date palm has proven to be a fiasco in its adaptation. These plants thrive in oases with abundant water, and the increasing lack of rain in Barcelona has been fatal for them.
The issue came to a tragic head in the summer of 2023, when a date palm in the Raval neighbourhood snapped and fell, killing a young woman. That incident dramatically accelerated a removal plan already in motion. In the aftermath, the city council felled 708 palms deemed to be at risk of collapse.
The numbers illustrate the rapid decline. In 2020, Barcelona had 2,287 date palms; today, only 1,227 remain. The 2037 target is a mere 181 specimens.
A New, More Diverse Canopy
As some species recede, others are gaining prominence. The European nettle tree has increased its presence from 12% in 2010 to 13.29% today. Over the same period, Tipuanas have grown from 4% to 4.57%, and Chinaberry trees from 3% to 4.37%.
The council’s vision is for an even more balanced structure. The long-term goal is to have plane trees and nettle trees each hover around 12% of the total, with Chinaberry trees at 7.25% and others like the flowering pear and Tipuana at approximately 5% each.
Crucially, this comprehensive renewal is not reducing the city’s overall tree count. The total number of trees in Barcelona’s public spaces has remained stable in recent years at around 205,000, a significant increase from the nearly 150,000 trees recorded in the year 2000. It is a strategic replanting, designed to ensure Barcelona’s leafy avenues can withstand the climate of tomorrow.
