The future of the majestic century-old plane tree that welcomes visitors to Floridian Park in Naples is still uncertain. The Directorate of the Vomero National Museums has announced that it has ordered afurther technical assessment to verify the possibility of avoiding the felling of the historic tree, which is currently classified as a specimen at very high risk of falling.
Apparently, the plane tree still looks vigorous, with a lush, verdant foliage. However, its actual state of health turns out to be quite different from what its outward appearance suggests. In the past, it had already been necessary to intervene with a static consolidation system using steel cables, a solution that, however, today is no longer considered sufficient to guarantee its stability.
The situation emerged during an extensive monitoring campaign of the Floridiana’s tree heritage, which involved all 1,117 trees in the park. The checks were carried out through visual inspections and sophisticated instrumental surveys, including laser scanner technology surveys, sonic tomography, resistographs, controlled tensile tests and root system tightness tests. The data collected enabled the drafting of a Tree Risk Management Map, a tool aimed at planning maintenance, pruning and phytosanitary care interventions, as well as identifying specimens with structural criticalities. In fact, the analyses revealed some trees whose stability is now irreversibly compromised, making it necessary to cut them down to ensure the safety of visitors and the overall protection of the park’s ecosystem. Among the specimens placed in the so-called class D, the highest level on the scale of propensity to failure, unfortunately also includes the century-old plane tree located near the entrance to Via Aniello Falcone, considered one of the historic symbols of the Floridiana.
Faced with this prospect, the director of the National Museums of the Vomero, Almerinda Padricelli, sharing the concerns expressed by environmental associations and citizens, has decided to request further technical investigation to evaluate every possible alternative to felling. To this end, Emiliano Sanfilippo, a professional from the Tuscan firm ArborLab, which specializes in the analysis of vegetative and phytosanitary conditions of trees and tree risk management, has been appointed. The objective is to verify whether there are interventions that can reduce the danger of the plant and allow the preservation of what represents not only a monumental tree, but also a significant part of the historical and landscape memory of the Floridiana.
“There are in many parks trees of high ornamental or emotional value like the one found in Floridiana that deserve to be preserved,” said the director. “All plants have a life cycle, just as we humans do, but it is our job to do what we can to accompany and preserve them for as long as possible. I trust that, even if this diagnosis is confirmed, technical solutions can be evaluated to avoid felling by means of consolidation interventions capable of keeping the plant alive while guaranteeing the safety of the park’s users.”
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| Floridian's century-old plane tree in danger: new studies to avert felling underway |
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