Tree planting at the Plaça del Coneixement

The Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and the Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF) are organising a new planting of trees and shrubs for this Thursday 12 February at the Plaça del Coneixement, to expand the campus' climate shelter. Specifically, seven holly oaks and six nettle trees will be planted, as well as some fifty shrubs, including mastic, grey-leaved cistus and rosemary.

The specimens come from donations under the agreement established between the UAB, CREAF and Etifor (WOWnature) within the framework of the European Erasmus+ Uforest project, initiated in 2021. The project aims to promote Europe's innovation capacity between universities, cities and companies to offer a new approach to urban forestry.

The activity will take place between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon in front of the Faculty of Translation and Interpreting, on land previously prepared with the collaboration of volunteers from the Fundació Autònoma Solidària (FAS), in an area close to where the first planting took place in November 2024. The specimens planted on that occasion, a pilot test of thirty trees and fifty shrubs of medium size (neither as small as in reforestations nor as large as is usually done in cities), have survived very well and have grown quite a bit; only four trees have not progressed.

The initiative aims to change the appearance of a concrete urban space and create an environment that softens the effects of climate change on the university community and, at the same time, promotes the biodiversity of the campus. The aim is to make the UAB campus more resilient to the effects of the climate crisis, such as heat waves and the loss of biodiversity, while creating a climate refuge with trees that have low water needs and produce fruits that can also be useful for local fauna. In fact, the species selected for the campus (native Mediterranean tree and shrub species typical of Catalonia's forest ecosystems) attract pollinators and small birds. This initiative also aims to educate and raise awareness among the community about the importance of green spaces in urban environments.

The activity will feature a presentation of the project by Xavier Gabarrell, vice-rector for Campus and Sustainability at the UAB, and Joan Pino, director of CREAF. All the necessary material for planting the trees will be provided and there will be the possibility of adopting a tree. 
 
For more information and to sign up to participate please visit:

https://www.creaf.cat/ca/plantacio-del-refugi-climatic-de-la-uab

https://www.uab.cat/mecenatge/ (under the section Altres campanyes)