Vélez-Málaga plants 300 trees to make progress

Vélez-Málaga has planted around 300 trees to reinforce its commitment to a more sustainable city model with improved environmental quality. The initiative is part of an action plan promoted by the government team. Over the past few years, similar measures have been developed, focusing on increasing urban and peri-urban tree coverage and enhancing the provision of ecosystem services. In 2024, 184 specimens were planted; in 2025, the number increased to 195; and by 2026, around 300 new trees will be planted, totaling nearly 680 trees in three years.

These actions are structured around two main lines. On one hand, the afforestation of green areas, aimed at enhancing the presence of trees in parks and public spaces. On the other, the replacement and opening of new tree pits in urban roads, with the goal of strengthening the tree coverage in streets and squares. Part of the plantings are carried out through funds from the Agricultural Employment Promotion Program (PFEA).

Areas to be targeted

The tree replacement plan will be implemented in Vélez-Málaga, Chilches, Almayate, Torre del Mar, and Mezquitilla, increasing the number of green areas in dozens of spaces within the municipality. As a new feature, within the 2025 PFEA, tree planting in educational centers will be incorporated for the first time, specifically at CEIP Las Naciones, where 30 specimens will be planted. Additionally, the greening of Plaza de la Constitución in Vélez-Málaga with the planting of six new trees is planned.

The supply and planting of roadside trees will include streets in Vélez-Málaga such as Avenida Carlos III, Calle Molino Velasco, Camino Viejo de Vélez, Calle Herreros, Explanada de la Estación, Calle José de Ribera, Calle Tejeda, Avenida Las Naciones, and Camino del Higueral; in Chilches, the Chilches School and Hacienda Condemar; in Almayate, Calle Los Pinos; and in Torre del Mar, Glorieta de Levante, Avenida Carlos III, Calle Clavel, Calle Azucarera, and Calle Mar Cantábrico. Urban afforestation actions will also be developed in parks and selected streets of Vélez-Málaga, Torre del Mar, and Mezquitilla, as well as on the Gran Senda de Málaga and the Senda Litoral.

The main species to be used are plants adapted to drought and the clayey soil of the municipality. "An example is the robusta grevillea, the species that will be introduced on Francisco Labao Gámez street. Another shade species that is performing very well is the mulberry, found on Aceituneros Street, in the VPM-7 and VPM-8 sectors,” explained Francisco Rodríguez, head of the Environmental Services department.

Other plans to be carried out by the municipality

In parallel to this project, Jesús Lupiáñez, the mayor of the municipality, has announced new plans for the future aimed at advancing "a greener and more sustainable city." The municipality is working to secure funding that would "significantly improve Plaza de los Regulares". Thus, a resolution of a grant for actions on Calle Camino Viejo de Vélez-Málaga is also expected, and the planting of new trees in educational centers is being evaluated.

“We will act on dozens of streets in the municipality in the short term, we have studied upcoming areas for the medium term, and we are working on more ambitious and powerful projects for the long term,” the mayor added. These projects comprise a “green agenda that will transform the public spaces of the municipality,” concluded the mayor.