Despite local opposition, the Municipality of Trifylia in southern Greece has uprooted a historic land mark, ‘Tambakis Mulberry’- a 300-year-old tree tied to Greece’s War of Independence.
The tree was located in Filiatra’s Kapodistrias Square and was a candidate for inclusion in the List of Protected Natural Monuments of Greece.
It had joined the Greek Revolution Centennial Tree Network, which was under the auspices of the national ‘Greece 2021’ Committee due to its connection with stories and events of the Greek Revolution.
It was also marked in January 2022 with the Network’s anniversary label created by Greek Australian painter Joanna Kordos, as part of celebratory events marking these trees that took place throughout the Peloponnese.
Officials have justified the removal, citing plans to create parking spaces, but did not consider alternatives like transplantation.
The tree survived the Ibrahim Pasha Egyptian army devastation. But now destroyed 200 years later, there is an outcry.
Kordos said the decision has left her “disheartened”.
“We had 71 trees tagged that I designed the logos for and actually been approved under the UNESCO Natural heritage listing,” she told Neos Kosmos.
“It was bulldozed down… just flat. It was part of the paving, it wasn’t on the road or anything.
“No, they just took it upon themselves to do that. So there’s a big uproar about it.”
She called it a “dramatic” move given the courts in Tripoli were going to decide on the tree on February 18.
“It’s just disheartening to see it being lifted off the ground with the actual tag and flag on there, acknowledging the 200 years.”
“The councillor allowing for that to happen, it’s almost an antagonistic move. He should have known that there’d be such a reaction.
“I feel personally moved that. My work has been reduced to a tagging of a stump. That’s the way I feel. That the tree has been reduced to a stump.
“Is that something that we’re going to do to all the 71 trees? It’s no longer 71, it’s 70. Are they going to be seen as stumps to be chopped up for firewood? Man, seriously.
“It should have been celebrated and noted as a touristic feature, celebrating our history.”
