Find out about tree felling

Trees, the green lungs of our cities, play an essential role in our environment. They beautify our streets, help combat pollution and provide islands of coolness in summer.

However, the life of trees in an urban environment is often shorter than that of their congeners in the wild. Indeed, they have to cope with numerous constraints: pollution, shocks, pruning, lack of water...

The first step to ensuring the longevity of our trees is to plant them in optimal conditions. This means choosing species adapted to the urban environment, giving them sufficient space to grow and providing them with the necessary care: watering, pruning, fertilization...

A tree charter has also been set up by the City of Montpellier.

In order to guarantee the safety of citizens, the City of Montpellier regularly has trees on its territory appraised, particularly those that present a risk of falling. This enables us to identify weakened trees and take the necessary measures to protect them or fell them if necessary.

Expertise sometimes reveals mechanical fragility, such as holes in the trunk due to fungal attack. The tree then becomes a potential hazard.

Felling is a decision taken with care, after validation by a committee of experts "the Trees committee" with the aim of protecting citizens and public property.

As soon as possible, a new tree is replanted in the same location. If conditions do not allow it, shrubs or perennials, essential to biodiversity, will take its place.

Before any felling, an ecological diagnosis is carried out. This diagnosis identifies the presence of animal or plant species that could be impacted.

Special precautions are taken. For example, felling can be carried out section by section to limit disturbance to the species present. Alternatively, part of the trunk can be left standing to serve as a habitat for wildlife.

Refuges or shelters can also be set up in nearby buildings or trees to compensate for the loss of habitat suffered by animal species.

In general, trees are not felled during the hibernation periods of chatsmice or bird nesting except in cases of public safety emergency.